The ABA Years

The Pacers franchise began as a charter member of the ABA in 1967 when a group of eight businessmen invested a few thousand dollars apiece.

The first Pacers coach was Larry Staverman and the first player signed by the team was Roger Brown. A New York City playground legend from Brooklyn, Brown's promising career was halted during his freshman year at the University of Dayton because of his association with a local gambler. Brown never played a varsity college game and was banned by the NBA.

"Oscar Robertson told me to go to Dayton and find Roger Brown," Mike Storen, the Pacers' first general manager, later recalled. Storen found him working the night shift at a General Motors factory and playing Amateur Athletic Union ball when the ABA gave him new life.

Already 25, Brown led Indiana in scoring that first season with a 19.6 average. Other first-season Pacers included Bob Netolicky and Freddie Lewis. The team finished 38-40.

Before the second season the Pacers acquired Mel Daniels, a 6 foot 9 center. After a slow start Staverman was replaced with Bob "Slick " Leonard nine games into the season. The Pacers first reached the ABA Finals in the 1968-69 season, but lost to the Oakland Oaks, 4-1.