The Indiana Pacers franchise boasts a rich history with 37 playoff appearances across both the ABA and NBA. Although they have yet to secure an NBA championship, they have won three titles in the ABA. Here, we take a look at the franchise’s top five all-time leading rebounders.
Reggie Daniels, a notable player from the ABA era, was a seven-time All-Star and a two-time MVP while with the Pacers. He dominated the rebounding charts in three of his first four seasons, notably averaging 18.0 rebounds per game during the 1970-71 season. Throughout his initial four seasons with the team, he maintained an impressive average of at least 15.6 rebounds per game. Despite participating in only 479 career games with the franchise, he remains their all-time leading rebounder, averaging 16.0 rebounds per game.
Dale Davis had an impactful career, playing for four different teams in the NBA, with his sole All-Star nod coming during the 1999-2000 season with the Pacers. His best rebounding year was in the 1993-94 season, where he averaged 10.9 rebounds per game, the only time in his career he surpassed double-digit averages. Over his 671 games with the Pacers, he averaged 9.0 rebounds.
Rick Smits dedicated all 12 seasons of his career to the Pacers, earning an All-Star selection in the 1997-98 season. He participated in 867 career games, averaging 27 minutes and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Jeff Foster, like Smits, spent his entire career with the Pacers and reached at least 8.1 rebounds in four seasons. He recorded two seasons with averages surpassing 9.1 rebounds per game. Foster’s contributions primarily came from his rebounding, as he averaged only 4.9 points throughout his career.
Finally, George McGinnis made his mark in the ABA, earning three All-Star selections with the Pacers. He secured his MVP title in the 1974-75 season with averages of 29.8 points, 14.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. After playing for the 76ers and the Nuggets, McGinnis returned to the Pacers to conclude his career, taking on a lesser role in his final season, averaging just 18 minutes over 76 games. He played 487 games with the Pacers, achieving an average of 10.7 rebounds. His remarkable accomplishments in both leagues earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.