Mel Daniels obit

Mel Daniels, Hall of Fame center with Pacers, dies at 71

He was not on the list.


Mel Daniels, the Hall of Fame center who helped the Indiana Pacers win three American Basketball Association titles, died Friday. He was 71.

The Pacers said Daniels died in Sheridan, Ind.

"The tremendous outpouring of prayers being sent our way is overwhelming," CeCe Daniels, his widow, said in a statement. "We are so grateful for all the love. His charisma, poise and passion for life — be it horses, basketball or friends — is a template for us all, his family and his fans."

The ABA's MVP in 1968-69 and 1970-71, Daniels was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. The Pacers retired Daniels' No. 34 jersey in 1985.

"I am saddened by the news that Mel Daniels has passed away," said Larry Bird, the Pacers' president of basketball operations. "I have known him since I was in college and he was one of my coaches. His competitive attitude reflected his success on the floor with the Pacers and the ultimate recognition, a well-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame."

The 6-foot-9 former star at New Mexico was the ABA's Rookie of the Year in 1967-68 with the Minnesota Muskies. He was traded to Indiana the following season and played on championship squads in 1970, '72 and '73, teaming with Roger Brown, Freddie Lewis, Darnell Hillman, George McGinnis and Bob Netolicky under Hall of Fame coach Bobby "Slick" Leonard.

"We've lost a great one," Leonard said.

Daniels averaged 18.7 points and 15.1 rebounds in 628 regular-season games in eight seasons in the ABA with the Minnesota Muskies, Indiana and Memphis Sounds. In 109 playoff games, he averaged 17.4 points and 14.9 rebounds. He spent a season in Italy, and played 11 games in the NBA for the New York Nets in 1976-77.

He was a four-time All-ABA selection, seven-time All-Star, led the league in rebounding three times and holds the league record with 9,494 career rebounds. 

Daniels is the ABA's all-time leader in total rebounds and second in ABA career average rebounds (15.12) behind only fellow Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore of the Kentucky Colonels (17.07).

As a rookie in 1967–68 with the Minnesota Muskies, Daniels was named the American Basketball Association Rookie of the Year. He averaged 22.2 points and a league leading 15.6 rebounds in 78 games, as Minnesota finished 50–28 under coach Jim Pollard. Minnesota lost to the eventual ABA champion Pittsburgh Pipers with Connie Hawkins in the 1968 ABA Playoffs, as Daniels averaged 25.3 points and 16.1 rebounds in 10 playoff games. After the 1967–68 season, Daniels was traded to the Indiana Pacers for cash (reportedly, $75,000), Jimmy Dawson and Ron Kozlicki, as Minnesota was experiencing financial difficulty. Minnesota moved to become the Miami Floridians after the one season in Minnesota.

With Indiana in 1968–69, Daniels was named the ABA Most Valuable Player as he averaged 24.0 points and an ABA leading 16.5 rebounds. With Hall of Fame Coach Slick Leonard taking over from Larry Staverman as the Pacers coach early in the season, in the 1969 ABA Playoffs, Indiana defeated the Kentucky Colonels 4–3, Daniels' former team, the Miami Floridians 4–1 before losing to the Oakland Oaks with Rick Barry 4–1 in the 1969 ABA Finals.

"Slick was one of the most creative, innovative coaches ever," Daniels said of his longtime Pacers coach. "He would change our offense at halftime. He'd create six new plays and we executed them the way he drew them up on the board."

In 1969–70, Indiana won the 1970 ABA championship with a 4–2 series win over the Los Angeles Stars in the ABA Finals. Daniels averaged 18.7 points and 17.6 rebounds in the regular season, as Indiana finished 59–25. Hall of Famer Roger Brown, Bob Netolicky John Barnhill and Freddie Lewis helped lead the Pacers to the ABA Title. Daniels averaged 19.3 points and 17.7 rebounds in the playoffs.

In 1970–71, the Pacers finished 58–26, as Daniels was again named the ABA Most Valuable Player. He averaged 21.0 points, a league leading 18.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. The Pacers were defeated by the Utah Stars 4–3 in the Western Division Finals in the 1971 ABA Playoffs. Daniels averaged 21.4 points and 19.2 rebounds in the playoffs.

In 1971–72 the Pacers added Hall of Famer George McGinnis. They then won their second ABA Title, as they defeated the Denver Rockets 4–3, the Utah Stars 4–3 and the New York Nets with Rick Barry 4–2 in the 1972 ABA Finals. Daniels averaged 19.2 points, 16.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists as Indiana finished the regular season 47–37. Daniels averaged 15.3 points and 15.1 rebounds in the playoffs.

The Pacers won their third ABA championship in 1972–73. Daniels averaged 18.5 points and 15.4 rebounds alongside McGinnis (27.6 points and 12.5 rebounds), as Indiana finished 51–33. In the 1973 ABA Playoffs, Indiana defeated the Denver Rockets 4–1 and the Utah Stars 4–2. In the 1973 ABA Finals the Pacers defeated the Kentucky Colonels with Hall of Famers Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Louis Dampier and former Pacer teammate Rick Mount 4–3 to capture the ABA championship. Daniels averaged 15.9 points and 13.8 rebounds in the playoffs.

In his last season in Indiana, Daniels averaged a double-double 15.4 points and 11.6 rebounds in 1973–74. The Pacers finished 46–38 and lost to the Utah Stars in the Western Conference finals in the 1974 ABA Playoffs, with Daniels averaging 12.2 points and 11.4 rebounds in the playoffs.

"Words cannot express the depth of my sadness today," said former Pacers great Reggie Miller, also a Hall of Famer. "Mel Daniels was a father figure, brother, consigliere, but most of all 'My Uncle Mel.' He helped raise me into the man I am. I hope I made him proud in everything I tried to do on, but more importantly off, the basketball court."

Daniels later was an assistant coach, executive and scout with the Pacers, and was an avid horseman.

"Mel was a great friend of mine the whole time I've been in Indiana," said Donnie Walsh, the Pacers' longtime president and current consultant. "He was a big part of the history of the Indiana Pacers. You always knew where Mel stood. He was a great competitor and poet. He was just getting ready to release a book of poems. I loved Mel. I will miss him."

Daniels was an assistant coach at Indiana State — where he rejoined former New Mexico coach Bob King — during Larry Bird's years at the school.

Daniels averaged 20.0 points and 11.1 rebounds in three seasons at New Mexico. He was selected ninth overall by the NBA's Cincinnati Royals in 1967, but went to the ABA with the Muskies.

"Mel was one of the greatest Lobos of all time," New Mexico coach Craig Neal said. "He played for Coach King and started the basketball tradition here, with his teams playing the first years in The Pit."

Daniels grew up Detroit and starred at Pershing High School.

The Pacers will have a tribute and moment of silence before their game Saturday night against Utah.

"I join our extended Pacers family in offering my sincerest condolences to CeCe and Mel's family," Pacers owner Herb Simon said in a statement. "We will miss him greatly, but when we look at that Hall of Fame banner in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, we will be forever reminded of what he meant to this franchise."

In addition to his wife, Daniels is survived by son Mel Daniels Jr., granddaughters Trisstan and Chloe, and sisters Vivian and Wanda.