WTHR has learned that former Pacers player Mel Daniels has passed away suddenly at the age of 71.
The Pacers confirmed the sad news with this statement:
The Indiana Pacers today are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former center Mel Daniels, a stalwart on the team's three American Basketball Association championship teams and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Daniels died Friday in Sheridan, Ind. He was 71. He is survived by his wife, CeCe and family.
"I join our extended Pacers family in offering my sincerest condolences to CeCe and Mel's family," said Pacers Sports & Entertainment owner Herb Simon. "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."
Daniels was twice named the ABA's MVP (1969 and 1971). He played six seasons with the Pacers, averaging 19.4 points and 16.0 rebounds per game. A four-time All-ABA selection, Daniels was named to the First Team in 1969, 1970 and 1971, and was a Second Team pick in 1973. He also was named the ABA All-Star Game MVP in 1971 and was the ABA's first Rookie of the Year in 1968 while playing with Minnesota. He is the Pacers' all-time leading rebounder in the ABA (7,643) and he holds the Pacers' ABA record for rebounds in a single season (1,475 in 1970-71).
He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. Following the end of his playing career, he joined the basketball staff of the Pacers. He also was an avid horse enthusiast. His jersey number was retired on November 2, 1985. In September 2012, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
WTHR Sports Director Dave Calabro remembers Mel:
As a kid growing up on the west side, I was always curious about Mel Daniels. We would go to the State Fair Coliseum and watch the Pacers.
Mel was the Giant in the middle. He was the rebounding machine. He didn’t talk much and wasn’t that animated on the court. Daniels just got it done without a lot of showboating.
I remember getting the courage up to ask him for an autograph. I still have it.
Daniels was a two-time ABA MVP. The Pacers won three ABA Titles with Mel dominating in the middle. He was the first Pacers player to be inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2012. The number 34 was retired in his honor.
When Reggie Miller was drafted by the Pacers, Mel reached out to Reggie and became his mentor. I know Reggie feels like he lost a family member today.
As a local sports broadcaster, I got to know Mel the human being. He was outspoken and didn’t mind sharing his thoughts even if it ruffled some feathers.
Mel loved his family and his privacy. He had a 100-acre farm in Sheridan.
Mel wanted to talk family or horses more than he wanted to talk hoops. He had the firmest handshake of any man I ever met.
Mel Daniels was more than basketball. We will miss the Gentle Giant.
