Dale Davis
The workhorse power forward who became the Pacers' all-time NBA rebounding leader and a key force in their 2000 NBA Finals run.
Elliott Lydell "Dale" Davis (born March 25, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player who played center and power forward. Drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 13th pick of the 1991 NBA draft, he spent the first nine years of his career with them. He quickly established himself as the team's starting power forward and was the workhorse of the Pacers' outstanding teams in the mid-1990s. He routinely averaged double-digits in points and near double-digits in rebounds throughout his Pacers career and left the franchise as the team's all-time rebounds leader in their NBA era.
- Role
- Power Forward / Center
- Affiliation
- Indiana Pacers (1991–2000)
- First Appears
- Drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1991, spent his entire prime with the team
- Status
- Retired
- Key Achievement
- NBA All-Star (2000)
- Legacy Stat
- Left the franchise as the team's all-time rebounds leader in their NBA era
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Davis was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 13th pick of the 1991 NBA draft and spent the first nine years of his career with them. He quickly established himself as the team's starting power forward and was the workhorse of the Pacers' outstanding teams in the mid-1990s. He routinely averaged double-digits in points and near double-digits in rebounds throughout his Pacers career and left the franchise as the team's all-time rebounds leader in their NBA era. (The Pacers were an original member of the American Basketball Association for several years before joining the NBA.) Following the 1999–2000 season, in which Davis was named to the All-Star team and the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals, the organization decided it was time to rebuild with a younger group of players. They traded Davis to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal and Joe Kleine, and O'Neal soon went on to become the Pacers' franchise player.
In Their Own Story
After the 1999–2000 season, Davis was named to the All-Star team and the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals. But the organization decided it was time to rebuild with a younger group of players. They traded Davis to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal and Joe Kleine. Davis spent four years with the Blazers, putting up much the same numbers as he did with the Pacers—roughly 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. He played 313 games for the Blazers, starting 235 times. On July 20, 2004, the Blazers traded Davis and Dan Dickau to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Nick Van Exel. On February 24, 2005, Davis was traded again, along with guard Speedy Claxton, to the New Orleans Hornets for guard Baron Davis. Davis was released soon afterward and signed with his first team, the Pacers, on March 4, 2005. He immediately started in place of the injured Jermaine O'Neal, earning one point, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in a Pacers' road victory against the Blazers. In all, Davis started all 25 games he played for the Pacers in the 2004–05 regular season, contributing 6.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.32 blocks per game.
Reader's Guide
Dale Davis was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 13th pick of the 1991 NBA draft and spent the first nine years of his career with them. He quickly established himself as the team's starting power forward and was the workhorse of the Pacers' outstanding teams in the mid-1990s. He routinely averaged double-digits in points and near double-digits in rebounds throughout his Pacers career and left the franchise as the team's all-time rebounds leader in their NBA era. Following the 1999–2000 season, in which Davis was named to the All-Star team and the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals, the organization traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal and Joe Kleine. Davis spent four years with the Blazers, putting up roughly 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. He played 313 games for the Blazers, starting 235 times. On July 20, 2004, the Blazers traded Davis and Dan Dickau to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Nick Van Exel. On February 24, 2005, Davis was traded again, along with guard Speedy Claxton, to the New Orleans Hornets for guard Baron Davis. Davis was released soon afterward and signed with his first team, the Pacers, on March 4, 2005. He immediately started in place of the injured Jermaine O'Neal, earning one point, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in a Pacers' road victory against the Blazers. In all, Davis started all 25 games he played for the Pacers in the 2004–05 regular season, contributing 6.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.32 blocks per game. On August 26, 2005, Davis signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons. He played with the Pistons for 2 years, retiring from basketball after the 2006–2007 NBA season.
Did You Know?
- Dale Davis was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 13th pick of the 1991 NBA draft.
- He left the Pacers as the team's all-time rebounds leader in their NBA era.
- Davis was named to the All-Star team in the 1999–2000 season, when the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals.
- In August 2006, Davis was shocked with a stun gun as Miami Beach police arrested him for assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest; he was acquitted of all charges in December 2006.
- Davis is the biological father of Trayce Jackson-Davis, who currently plays for the Toronto Raptors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dale Davis?
Dale Davis was a dominant power forward and center who joined the Indiana Pacers in 1996 after being drafted by Atlanta. He quickly became known as an immovable defensive force who anchored the team's resurgence during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
What role did Dale Davis play on the court?
As a physical presence in the paint, his primary function was to protect the rim with relentless energy and elite shot-blocking ability. He transformed the Pacers' interior defense into a nightmare for opposing scorers throughout the Eastern Conference.
How does Dale Davis's story end?
After spending eight seasons as a cornerstone of the franchise from 1996 to 2004, he eventually retired from professional basketball. His tenure concluded with him holding significant defensive records for the team during that era.
Why is Dale Davis important to Pacers history?
He was instrumental in elevating Indiana into a perennial playoff threat by establishing them as one of the league's most formidable defensive units. His physicality and shot-blocking prowess remain legendary among fans who remember that specific championship-contending window.
What are his key achievements with the franchise?
Davis earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2000 while playing for Indiana. He also holds the distinction of leading all Pacers players in blocks per game during his time with the organization.
More in Legendary Players
Elsewhere in the Indiana Pacers universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record