The Pacers were one of four teams to join the NBA in the merger, and Knight was one of many to prove that the junior league had some solid talent. He would make the All-Star Team in Indiana's first year with the NBA with a 26.6 Points per Game Average, but he was dealt after the season to Buffalo. Knight returned in 1979 to play four and a half more years in Indiana.
Overall, he would average 18.4 Points per Game for the Pacers.
5. Billy Knight
The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Billy Knight, but he was also chosen by the Indiana Pacers of the ABA. It was the latter where he elected to sign. He would immediately become the starting Small Forward, where he would make All-Rookie honors with a Points per Game Average of 17.1. He followed that up with the best season of his life, increasing his Points per Game Average by double digits (28.1) and averaging a double-double with 10.1 boards. This was the last season of the American Basketball Association, and he exited with a bang with an All-Star Game and First Team All-ABA nod.
The Bullet Points
- Position: Shooting Guard, Small Forward
- Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 6th Overall in the ABA Draft 4/17/74.
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Departed:
Traded to the Buffalo Braves for Mike Bantom and Adrian Dantley 9/1/77.
Acquired: Traded from the Boston Celtics for Rick Robey 1/16/79.
Departed: Traded to the New York Knicks for Vince Taylor and a 1984 1st Round Pick (which would be Vern Fleming) 9/17/83. - Games Played: 585
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Per Game Averages: 30.4 MP
.515 eFG%
.826 FT%
18.4 PTS
5.9 RB
2.4 AST
1.1 STL
0.2 BLK
23 Playoff Games
42.5 MP
.563 eFG%
.835 FT%
24.9 PTS
8.9 RB
2.6 AST
0.9 STL
0.0 BLK
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Advanced Stats: 19.2 PER
.570 TS%
17.1 VORP
53.4 WS
23 Playoff Games
18.9 PER
.609 TS%
1.1 VORP
3.1 WS
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Major Accolades and Awards:
First Team All-ABA (1976)
NBA All-Star (1977)
ABA All-Star (1976)
First Team All-ABA Rookie (1975)
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