Mel Daniels

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Lore & Background

The bond between Daniels and the Indiana fanbase was forged through his relentless play and leadership. Head coach Bobby Leonard described Daniels as "the leader on the ballclub. He expected his teammates to bring it every night and he would get on 'em. But off the floor, he was like a big bear." Daniels used his size and strength to go with an interest to "knock guys down" on his way to stellar defense. In 479 career games with the Indiana Pacers, Daniels averaged 19.0 points and 16.4 rebounds. His jersey number 34 was retired by the Pacers, honoring his role in the franchise's golden ABA era.

In Their Own Story

The 1969-70 season saw Daniels lead the Pacers to their first ABA championship. After Hall of Fame Coach Slick Leonard took over early in the previous season, the team gelled around Daniels' interior presence. In the 1970 ABA Finals, Indiana defeated the Los Angeles Stars 4-2. Daniels averaged 18.7 points and 17.6 rebounds in the regular season, and 19.3 points and 17.7 rebounds in the playoffs. Teammates like Hall of Famer Roger Brown, Bob Netolicky, John Barnhill, and Freddie Lewis helped lead the Pacers to the title, but it was Daniels' dominance on the boards that provided the foundation.

Reader's Guide

Mel Daniels defined the Indiana Pacers during their most successful period in the American Basketball Association from 1968 to 1974. Playing as a power forward/center, he was known for his relentless rebounding and physical defense. His achievements with the Pacers are staggering: Daniels was named the ABA Most Valuable Player twice (1968-69 and 1970-71). He led the league in rebounding average in 1968-69 (16.5) and 1970-71 (18.0). He was the engine behind three championship victories for Indiana in 1970, 1972, and 1973. In the 1972 ABA Finals, the Pacers defeated the New York Nets with Rick Barry 4-2. In the 1973 ABA Finals, the Pacers defeated the Kentucky Colonels with Hall of Famers Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, and Louis Dampier 4-3. Daniels' legacy extends beyond his statistics; he is revered as a pioneer who chose the fledgling ABA over the NBA and became one of the greatest players in league history. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Did You Know?

• Daniels was the first NBA first-round pick to snub the established league and go to the ABA, choosing the Minnesota Muskies over the Cincinnati Royals.
• He was a two-time ABA Most Valuable Player, winning the award in 1968-69 and 1970-71 while with the Pacers.
• Daniels is the ABA's all-time leader in total rebounds and second in ABA career average rebounds (15.12).
• His seven ABA All-Star selections are tied with Louie Dampier for most in ABA history.
• In 479 career games with the Indiana Pacers, Daniels averaged 19.0 points and 16.4 rebounds.