Jermaine O'Neal
The iron-willed defensive anchor who carried the Pacers to the 2004 Finals.
Jermaine O'Neal was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2000. In his eight seasons with the team, he was voted an NBA All-Star six times, made the All-NBA teams three times, and was voted the NBA Most Improved Player in the 2001–02 season. O'Neal also helped Indiana reach the NBA playoffs six times, including the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2003–04 season.
- all_star_selections
- 6x All-Star during Pacers tenure
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
O'Neal arrived in Indiana via a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000, a move that surprised fans as the Pacers had just come off an appearance in the 2000 NBA Finals and traded away a quality player for an unproven commodity. Over eight seasons, he developed into a dominant force, earning six All-Star selections and three All-NBA team honors. His 2001–02 season was particularly notable as he was voted the NBA Most Improved Player. O'Neal helped the Pacers reach the playoffs six times, with the deepest run coming in the 2003–04 season when they reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
In Their Own Story
The trade that sent O'Neal to Indiana was greeted with surprise by fans. The Pacers had just come off an appearance in the 2000 NBA Finals, and the trade involved losing a quality player for an unproven commodity in O'Neal. The Pacers roster also saw the departures of Mark Jackson and Rik Smits. But O'Neal quickly proved his worth, becoming the anchor of the franchise and leading them to six playoff appearances in eight seasons.
Reader's Guide
Jermaine O'Neal's tenure with the Indiana Pacers (2000–2008) was defined by his rapid rise from unproven prospect to NBA star. After struggling for playing time in Portland, he blossomed in Indiana, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award in the 2001–02 season. He was voted an NBA All-Star six times during his Pacers career and made the All-NBA teams three times. His greatest team achievement came in the 2003–04 season when he helped the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. O'Neal's defensive presence and scoring ability made him one of the premier power forwards/centers in the league during this period. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors before the 2008–09 season began.
Did You Know?
- O'Neal was voted the NBA Most Improved Player in the 2001–02 season.
- He was selected 17th overall in the 1996 NBA draft straight out of high school at just 17 years old.
- At 18 years, one month and 22 days, he became the youngest player to play in an NBA game.
- O'Neal was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2000 alongside Joe Kleine in exchange for NBA All-Star Dale Davis.
- He helped the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2003–04 season.
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