Mel Daniels was drafted ninth overall by the Cincinnati Royals in 1967, but the Minnesota Muskies of the American Basketball Association also chose him and offered him more money to sign. As a rookie, Daniels was a dominating player, winning the Rookie of the Year award, but the Muskies (like so many in the ABA) had financial problems, and he was shipped off to the Indiana Pacers for $75,000.
Daniels would cement himself as the best Center in the ABA over the next few seasons, winning the MVP Award in 1969 and 1971 and having three straight years as a First Team All-ABA Selection. He was the anchor of an elite Pacers team that would win the ABA Championship in 1970, 1972 & 1973. In terms of his individual stats, Daniels was the Rebounding Champion twice, averaging an even 16.0 as a Pacer. He also scored well with 19.4 PPG and a PER of 20.1. His days with Indiana ended when he was traded to the Memphis Sounds after the 1973/74 Season, but he ensured that three banners would forever be hung in Indianapolis.
Daniels was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, and his #34 was retired by the team in 1985.
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