Mel Daniels
Encyclopedia
Melvin Joe Daniels is a retired American professional basketball
player.
A 6' 9" center
, he played for the University of New Mexico
Lobo men's basketball
team from 1964-67. He was the ninth pick of the 1967 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft
, selected by the Cincinnati Royals
, and was also drafted by the Minnesota Muskies of the American Basketball Association
(ABA). He chose to play in the fledgling ABA, and became one of its all-time greatest players.
Daniels was the ABA Rookie of the Year for the 1967-68 season before being traded to the Indiana Pacers
, then of the ABA and now in the NBA. Daniels was the ABA Most Valuable Player in both 1969 and 1971 and led the Pacers to three ABA championships. Daniels played in seven ABA All-Star Games, and was named the ABA All-Star Game MVP in the 1971 game
. Daniels led the ABA in rebounding average in three different seasons, and is the ABA's all-time leader in total rebounds (9,494) and career rebounding average (15.1 rebounds per game). Daniels also grabbed 1608 career postseason rebounds, ranking in the top twelve in professional basketball history.
Daniels played briefly for the NBA's New York Nets in the 1976-77 season.
After his playing days, Daniels joined the coaching staff of his college coach, Bob King, at Indiana State, where he coached future Hall of Famer
Larry Bird
. Daniels joined the Indiana Pacers
front office in 1986 and was the team's Director of Player Personnel until October 2009.
Mel Daniels is one of the few ABA Most Valuable Players not called up to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts
, aside from former ABA players already admitted such as: Connie Hawkins
(1992), Dan Issel
(1993), David Thompson
(1996) and Artis Gilmore
(2011).
Daniels is one of four players (the others are Roger Brown, Reggie Miller
, and George McGinnis
) to have his jersey (#34) retired by the Pacers.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
A 6' 9" center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, he played for the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
Lobo men's basketball
New Mexico Lobo Basketball
The University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represents the University of New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA Division I. UNM established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899, only eight years after the invention of the sport, but it wasn't until 1920 when they hired...
team from 1964-67. He was the ninth pick of the 1967 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft
1967 NBA Draft
The 1967 NBA Draft was the 21st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 3, 1967 before the 1967–68 season. In this draft, 12 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility...
, selected by the Cincinnati Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and was also drafted by the Minnesota Muskies of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA). He chose to play in the fledgling ABA, and became one of its all-time greatest players.
Daniels was the ABA Rookie of the Year for the 1967-68 season before being traded to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, then of the ABA and now in the NBA. Daniels was the ABA Most Valuable Player in both 1969 and 1971 and led the Pacers to three ABA championships. Daniels played in seven ABA All-Star Games, and was named the ABA All-Star Game MVP in the 1971 game
1971 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 4: at Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, January 23, 1971MVP: Mel Daniels, Indiana PacersCoaches:* East: Al Bianchi, Virginia Squires* West: Bill Sharman, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
. Daniels led the ABA in rebounding average in three different seasons, and is the ABA's all-time leader in total rebounds (9,494) and career rebounding average (15.1 rebounds per game). Daniels also grabbed 1608 career postseason rebounds, ranking in the top twelve in professional basketball history.
Daniels played briefly for the NBA's New York Nets in the 1976-77 season.
After his playing days, Daniels joined the coaching staff of his college coach, Bob King, at Indiana State, where he coached future Hall of Famer
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
. Daniels joined the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
front office in 1986 and was the team's Director of Player Personnel until October 2009.
Mel Daniels is one of the few ABA Most Valuable Players not called up to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, aside from former ABA players already admitted such as: Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins
Cornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend...
(1992), Dan Issel
Dan Issel
Daniel Paul Issel is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player and coach.-Collegiate playing career:...
(1993), David Thompson
David Thompson (basketball)
David O'Neil Thompson is a former American professional basketball star with the Denver Nuggets of both the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , as well as the Seattle SuperSonics...
(1996) and Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association...
(2011).
Daniels is one of four players (the others are Roger Brown, Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
, and George McGinnis
George McGinnis
George F. McGinnis is a retired American professional basketball player, most notably with the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association . He was drafted into the ABA from Indiana University in 1971...
) to have his jersey (#34) retired by the Pacers.