1968–69 Indiana Pacers season

1968–69 Indiana Pacers season
Division champions
Head coach	Larry Staverman Bobby Leonard
Arena	Indiana State Fair Coliseum
Results
Record	44–34 (.564)
Place	Division: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	ABA Finals (lost to Oaks 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

The 1968–69 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's second season in the ABA and second as a team.

1968 ABA Draft

Player	School/Club Team
Don Dee	St. Mary of the Plains
Mike Lewis	Duke
Don May	Dayton
Bob Quick	Xavier
Phil Wagner	Georgia Tech
Dave Benedict	Central Washington
Rudy Bogad	St. John's
Jerry Newsom	Indiana State
Rich Niemann	St. Louis
Jack Thompson	South Carolina
Greg Cisson	Rider
Bob Hooper	Dayton
Butch Joyner	Indiana
Tom Niemier	Evansville

Roster

Number	Name	Position	Height	Weight	Birth date	Experience (years)	College
35	Roger Brown	SF	6-5	205	May 22, 1942	1	University of Dayton
20	Stephen Chubin	SG	6-2	200	February 8, 1944	1	University of Rhode Island
34	Mel Daniels	C	6-9	220	July 20, 1944	1	University of New Mexico
40	Donald Dee	PF	6-8	210	August 9, 1943	R	Saint Mary of the Plains College
30	John Fairchild	SF	6-8	205	April 28, 1943	2	Brigham Young University
15	Jerry Harkness	PG	6-2	175	May 7, 1940	2	Loyola University of Chicago
12-20	Bobby Hooper	PG	6-0	180	December 22, 1946	R	University of Dayton
	Butch Joyner	F	6-5	200	April 26, 1945	R	Indiana University
14	Freddie Lewis	SG	6-0	175	July 1, 1943	2	Arizona State University
42	Mike Lewis	C	6-8	225	March 18, 1946	R	Duke University
32	Jay Miller	SF	6-5	205	July 19, 1943	1	University of Notre Dame
24	Bob Netolicky	PF	6-9	220	August 2, 1942	1	Drake University
43	George Peeples	C	6-7	190	October 30, 1943	1	University of Iowa
44	Ron Perry	SG	6-3	190	December 29, 1943	1	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
23	Jimmy Rayl	PG	6-2	175	June 21, 1941	1	Indiana University
11	Tom Thacker	PG	6-2	170	November 2, 1939	4	University of Cincinnati
12	Jack Thompson	G	6-1	185	March 26, 1946	R	University of South Carolina
11	Phillip Wagner	G	6-2	190	December 18, 1945	R	Georgia Institute of Technology

Season standings

Eastern Division

Team	Wins	Loses	Pct.
Indiana Pacers	44	34	.564
Miami Floridians	43	35	.551
Kentucky Colonels	42	36	.538
Minnesota Pipers	36	42	.462
New York Nets	17	61	.218

Western Division

Team	Wins	Loses	Pct.
Oakland Oaks	60	18	.769
New Orleans Buccaneers	46	32	.590
Denver Rockets	44	34	.564
Dallas Chaparrals	41	37	.526
Los Angeles Stars	33	45	.423
Houston Mavericks	23	55	.295

Awards, records, and honors

• Mel Daniels won the 1969 ABA All-Star Game MVP along with the 1968-69 ABA MVP award.

ABA All-Stars

• Mel Daniels
• Bob Netolicky

Team leaders

Stat	Player	Average per game
Points	Mel Daniels	24.0
Rebounds	Mel Daniels	16.5 (11.5 defensive and 5.0 offensive rebounds)
Assists	Stephen Chubin	5.2
Minutes	Freddie Lewis	39.2
FG%	Bob Netolicky	.509

Playoffs

Eastern Division semifinals vs. Kentucky Colonels

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 8	Indiana	118–128	0–1	6,319
2	April 9	Indiana	120–115	1–1	6,789
3	April 10	Kentucky	111–130	1–2	4,235
4	April 13	Kentucky	104–105 (OT)	1–3	3,079
5	April 14	Indiana	116–97	2–3	5,612
6	April 15	Kentucky	107–89	3–3	4,633
7	April 17	Indiana	120–111	4–3	11,005

Pacers win series, 4–3

Eastern Division finals vs Miami Floridians

Game	Date	Location	Result	Record	Attendance
1	April 20	Indiana	126–110	1–0	8,721
2	April 22	Indiana	131–116	2–0	7,243
3	April 23	Miami	119–105	3–0	2,112
4	April 25	Miami	110–114	3–1	2,846
5	April 26	Indiana	127–105	4–1	3,528

Pacers win series, 4–1

ABA Finals vs. Oakland Oaks

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 30	Oakland	114–123	0–1	3,290
2	May 2	Oakland	150–122	1–1	4,171
3	May 3	Indiana	126–134 (OT)	1–2	8,467
4	May 5	Indiana	117–144	1–3	7,133
5	May 7	Oakland	131–135 (OT)	1–4	6,340

Pacers lose series 4–1