Bob Netolicky

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Lore & Background

Bob Netolicky was drafted by the Pacers in the first ABA draft and negotiated a Chevrolet Corvette into his initial signing bonus. As a rookie in 1967–68, he averaged 16.3 points and 11.5 rebounds. In his second season, playing alongside Hall of Fame members Roger Brown and Mel Daniels, Netolicky averaged 18.9 points and 10.2 rebounds as the Pacers won the Eastern Division. In the 1970 ABA Finals, Netolicky averaged 20.3 points as the Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Stars. Before a game 5 loss, Netolicky had gone water skiing the previous day and strained muscles in his arm, making 7 of 22 shots. After the game he said, 'I missed about 10 easy shots, if I hadn't gone water skiing, we would have won it at home.' In 1969–70, Netolicky was named to the All-ABA Second Team. He is one of the few professional basketball players to play for both teams in the same game. On November 14, 1973, Netolicky was playing for the San Antonio Spurs when they lost at home to the Pacers on a last-second shot. The ABA Commissioner ordered the remaining 30 seconds replayed before the next Pacers-at-Spurs game on December 2, 1973. By that time, Netolicky had been traded to Indiana and played the final 30 seconds for the Pacers, plus the subsequent overtime.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with tension as the Pacers fought to defend their title in the 1970 ABA Finals. Bob Netolicky caught a pass at the high post, faked left, then drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul. The ball banked in—and-one. In the second game of the series, a 114-111 Pacers victory, Netolicky scored 32 points, making 14 of 22 shots, including 10 in a row in the second half. He also grabbed a rebound with six seconds left, drew a foul, and made two free throws to complete the scoring. Outside, the Indianapolis night was cold, but inside, the heat of a dynasty was just getting started.

Reader's Guide

Bob Netolicky played for the Indiana Pacers from 1967 to 1972 and again from 1973 to 1975. As a power forward/center, he was a well-rounded player who could rebound, defend, and shoot. Jim O'Brien of The Sporting News once claimed that Netolicky was the 'smoothest shooting big man in the ABA.' His greatest achievements include winning two ABA Championships (1969–70 and 1971–72) and being named to four ABA All-Star games. In 1969–70, he was named to the All-ABA Second Team. Netolicky was named to the All-Time American Basketball Association team in 1997. He ended his ABA career with 9,876 career points and 5,518 career rebounds.

Did You Know?

• Netolicky negotiated a Chevrolet Corvette into his initial Pacers signing bonus.
• Before a 1970 Finals game, Netolicky went water skiing and strained his arm, later saying, 'I missed about 10 easy shots, if I hadn't gone water skiing, we would have won it at home.'
• Netolicky is one of the few players to play for both teams in the same game—he played the final 30 seconds for the Pacers after being traded from the Spurs.
• He owned a popular nightclub in Indianapolis called Neto's, located in the Meadows Shopping Center.
• Netolicky kept exotic pets including a lion and an ocelot during his playing days.