Best draft picks in Indiana Pacers history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Indiana Pacers history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#36. Greg Minor
- Stacker score: 1.3
- 25th overall pick in 1994
- Career averages: 6.9 PTS, 2.7 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.2 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 0.7 VORP
#35. Solomon Hill
- Stacker score: 1.4
- 23rd overall pick in 2013
- Played three seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 5.5 PTS, 3.1 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.9 win shares, -2.1 box plus/minus, -0.3 VORP
#34. Miles Plumlee
- Stacker score: 1.4
- 26th overall pick in 2012
- Played one season with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 4.9 PTS, 4.5 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.6 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.2 VORP
#33. Kenny Williams
- Stacker score: 1.5
- 46th overall pick in 1990
- Played four seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 4.8 PTS, 2.7 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 7.4 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 1.5 VORP
#32. Georges Niang
- Stacker score: 1.8
- 50th overall pick in 2016
- Played one season with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 2.1 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.6 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#31. Brandon Rush
- Stacker score: 2.0
- 13th overall pick in 2008
- Played three seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 2.9 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.2 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2015 NBA Champ
#30. Rick Robey
- Stacker score: 2.1
- Third overall pick in 1978
- Played one season with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.8 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1981 NBA Champ
#29. Tyler Hansbrough
- Stacker score: 2.6
- 13th overall pick in 2009
- Played four seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 4.2 REB, 0.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.2 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, 0.0 VORP
#28. Malik Sealy
- Stacker score: 3.0
- 14th overall pick in 1992
- Played two seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.1 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#27. Fred Jones
- Stacker score: 3.0
- 14th overall pick in 2002
- Played four seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 7.5 PTS, 2.2 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.5 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 2.6 VORP
#26. Lance Stephenson
- Stacker score: 3.0
- 40th overall pick in 2010
- Played seven seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 4.1 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.5 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 2.3 VORP
#25. Dudley Bradley
- Stacker score: 4.5
- 13th overall pick in 1979
- Played two seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 5.2 PTS, 1.8 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.5 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 7.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1980-81 All-Defensive
#24. Jamaal Tinsley
- Stacker score: 4.7
- 27th overall pick in 2001
- Played seven seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 8.5 PTS, 2.9 REB, 6.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.2 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 7.1 VORP
#23. George McCloud
- Stacker score: 5.0
- Seventh overall pick in 1989
- Played four seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 3.1 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.6 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 5.3 VORP
#22. James Jones
- Stacker score: 5.1
- 49th overall pick in 2003
- Played two seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 5.2 PTS, 1.8 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.2 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#21. Louis Orr
- Stacker score: 5.2
- 29th overall pick in 1980
- Played two seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.7 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 5.5 VORP
#20. Clark Kellogg
- Stacker score: 5.2
- Eighth overall pick in 1982
- Played five seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 18.9 PTS, 9.5 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.9 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 7.3 VORP
#19. Austin Croshere
- Stacker score: 5.5
- 12th overall pick in 1997
- Played nine seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 4.0 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.6 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 5.6 VORP
#18. Roy Hibbert
- Stacker score: 5.8
- 17th overall pick in 2008
- Played seven seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 10.0 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.9 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 3.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2013-14 All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
#17. Travis Best
- Stacker score: 6.0
- 23rd overall pick in 1995
- Played seven seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 1.8 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.9 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 6.0 VORP
#16. Fred Hoiberg
- Stacker score: 6.3
- 52nd overall pick in 1995
- Played four seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 5.4 PTS, 2.7 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.6 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 8.0 VORP
#15. Wayman Tisdale
- Stacker score: 6.6
- Second overall pick in 1985
- Played four seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 15.3 PTS, 6.1 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 45.7 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 2.3 VORP
#14. Al Harrington
- Stacker score: 6.7
- 25th overall pick in 1998
- Played seven seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 13.5 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.5 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 3.7 VORP
#13. Steve Stipanovich
- Stacker score: 6.8
- Second overall pick in 1983
- Played five seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 13.2 PTS, 7.8 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.4 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 8.4 VORP
#12. Herb Williams
- Stacker score: 7.3
- 14th overall pick in 1981
- Played eight seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.1 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 7.8 VORP
#11. Chuck Person
- Stacker score: 8.2
- Fourth overall pick in 1986
- Played six seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 14.7 PTS, 5.1 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.9 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 9.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1986-87 ROY
#10. Erick Dampier
- Stacker score: 8.2
- 10th overall pick in 1996
- Played one season with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 7.1 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.7 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 4.1 VORP
#9. Jeff Foster
- Stacker score: 8.3
- 21st overall pick in 1999
- Played 13 seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 4.9 PTS, 6.9 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.5 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 6.3 VORP
#8. Myles Turner
- Stacker score: 8.4
- 11th overall pick in 2015
- Played eight seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 13.4 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.2 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 10.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
- Accolades
--- 2x BLK Champ
#7. Antonio Davis
- Stacker score: 9.2
- 45th overall pick in 1990
- Played six seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 10.0 PTS, 7.5 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.6 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 4.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#6. Rik Smits
- Stacker score: 10.8
- Second overall pick in 1988
- Played 12 seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 14.8 PTS, 6.1 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.6 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 10.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#5. Vern Fleming
- Stacker score: 11.9
- 18th overall pick in 1984
- Played 11 seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 11.3 PTS, 3.4 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.0 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 15.3 VORP
#4. Danny Granger
- Stacker score: 12.3
- 17th overall pick in 2005
- Played nine seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 16.8 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 48.5 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 17.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#3. Dale Davis
- Stacker score: 17.5
- 13th overall pick in 1991
- Played 10 seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 7.9 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 86.9 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 18.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#2. Paul George
- Stacker score: 39.9
- 10th overall pick in 2010
- Played seven seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 20.6 PTS, 6.4 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 81.2 win shares, 4.0 box plus/minus, 40.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 93.6%
- Accolades
--- 2018-19 STL Champ
--- 6x All-NBA
--- 4x All-Defensive
--- 8x All Star
#1. Reggie Miller
- Stacker score: 55.2
- 11th overall pick in 1987
- Played 18 seasons with Indiana Pacers
- Career averages: 18.2 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 174.4 win shares, 3.5 box plus/minus, 66.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
