Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Indiana Pacers > Roster & Statistics
The 1997–98 Indiana Pacers featured a balanced offense led by Reggie Miller’s perimeter scoring, while Rik Smits provided a dependable interior presence and Mark Jackson directed the attack with his playmaking. Dale Davis anchored the rebounding effort and contributed strong interior defense, with Antonio Davis adding valuable frontcourt production. The statistical profile reflects an efficient, well-rounded team built on ball movement, interior strength, and disciplined defense.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Travis Best | PG | 5-11 | 182 | July 12, 1972 | Georgia Tech |
| 5 | Jalen Rose | SF | 6-8 | 210 | January 30, 1973 | Michigan |
| 9 | Derrick McKey | SF | 6-10 | 241 | October 10, 1966 | Alabama |
| 13 | Mark Jackson | PG | 6-3 | 192 | April 1, 1965 | St. John’s |
| 17 | Chris Mullin | SF | 6-7 | 215 | July 30, 1963 | St. John’s |
| 20 | Fred Hoiberg | SG | 6-4 | 203 | October 15, 1972 | Iowa State |
| 21 | Etdrick Bohannon | PF | 6-9 | 220 | May 29, 1973 | Arizona, Tennessee, Auburn University at Montgomery |
| 31 | Reggie Miller | SG | 6-7 | 185 | August 24, 1965 | UCLA |
| 32 | Dale Davis | C | 6-11 | 230 | March 25, 1969 | Clemson |
| 33 | Antonio Davis | PF | 6-9 | 215 | October 31, 1968 | Texas-El Paso |
| 41 | Mark West | C | 6-10 | 230 | November 5, 1960 | Old Dominion |
| 43 | Mark Pope | SF | 6-10 | 235 | September 11, 1972 | Washington, Kentucky |
| 44 | Austin Croshere | PF | 6-9 | 235 | May 1, 1975 | Providence |
| 45 | Rik Smits | C | 7-4 | 250 | August 23, 1966 | Marist College |
Regular Season Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | SG | 32 | 81 | 81 | 34.5 | 19.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 13.3 | 6.4 | .477 | 4.7 | 2.0 | .429 | 5.4 | 4.7 | .868 |
| Rik Smits | C | 31 | 73 | 69 | 28.6 | 16.7 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 14.2 | 7.0 | .495 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.3 | 2.6 | .783 |
| Chris Mullin | SF | 34 | 82 | 82 | 26.5 | 11.3 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 8.4 | 4.1 | .481 | 3.0 | 1.3 | .440 | 2.0 | 1.9 | .939 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 29 | 82 | 12 | 26.7 | 9.6 | 6.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 6.4 | 3.1 | .481 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.9 | 3.4 | .696 |
| Jalen Rose | SF | 25 | 82 | 0 | 20.8 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 7.4 | 3.5 | .478 | 0.9 | 0.3 | .342 | 2.8 | 2.0 | .728 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 32 | 82 | 82 | 29.4 | 8.3 | 3.9 | 8.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 7.3 | 3.0 | .416 | 1.7 | 0.5 | .314 | 2.2 | 1.7 | .761 |
| Dale Davis | C | 28 | 78 | 78 | 27.9 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 6.4 | 3.5 | .548 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .465 | |
| Travis Best | PG | 25 | 82 | 0 | 18.9 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 2.5 | .419 | 0.9 | 0.3 | .300 | 1.6 | 1.4 | .855 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 31 | 57 | 4 | 23.1 | 6.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 5.7 | 2.6 | .459 | 0.3 | 0.1 | .235 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .714 |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 25 | 65 | 1 | 13.4 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 1.3 | .383 | 1.3 | 0.5 | .376 | 1.1 | 0.9 | .855 |
| Austin Croshere | PF | 22 | 26 | 0 | 9.3 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 1.2 | .372 | 0.5 | 0.2 | .308 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .571 |
| Mark Pope | SF | 25 | 28 | 0 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | .341 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .333 | 0.6 | 0.4 | .588 |
| Mark West | C | 37 | 15 | 1 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.7 | .476 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | .500 | |
| Etdrick Bohannon | PF | 24 | 5 | 0 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 241.8 | 96.0 | 39.3 | 23.0 | 7.9 | 4.5 | 14.2 | 75.9 | 35.6 | .469 | 12.5 | 4.9 | .390 | 26.0 | 19.9 | .764 |
Playoff Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | SG | 32 | 16 | 16 | 39.3 | 19.9 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 14.4 | 6.1 | .426 | 5.9 | 2.4 | .400 | 5.9 | 5.3 | .904 |
| Rik Smits | C | 31 | 16 | 16 | 29.8 | 16.6 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 13.1 | 6.6 | .502 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.0 | 3.4 | .859 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 32 | 16 | 16 | 30.9 | 9.2 | 4.6 | 8.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 7.9 | 3.3 | .417 | 2.3 | 0.9 | .378 | 2.1 | 1.7 | .794 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 29 | 16 | 0 | 28.7 | 9.2 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 5.7 | 2.6 | .462 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 3.9 | .670 | |
| Chris Mullin | SF | 34 | 16 | 16 | 25.8 | 8.9 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 7.1 | 3.3 | .460 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .385 | 1.3 | 1.1 | .857 |
| Dale Davis | C | 28 | 16 | 16 | 29.1 | 8.8 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 5.4 | 3.5 | .651 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .453 | |
| Jalen Rose | SF | 25 | 15 | 0 | 19.5 | 8.1 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 6.7 | 3.2 | .480 | 1.1 | 0.4 | .375 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .741 |
| Travis Best | PG | 25 | 16 | 0 | 17.5 | 6.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 1.7 | .375 | 1.1 | 0.3 | .278 | 2.7 | 2.4 | .884 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 31 | 15 | 0 | 18.9 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 1.5 | .333 | 0.7 | 0.2 | .300 | 1.5 | 1.2 | .783 |
| Mark Pope | SF | 25 | 7 | 0 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | .667 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.000 |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 25 | 2 | 0 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .375 | 1.0 | 0.5 | .500 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.000 |
| Mark West | C | 37 | 4 | 0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | .333 | |
| Team Totals | 16 | 16 | 241.6 | 91.8 | 35.3 | 19.1 | 7.2 | 4.9 | 14.6 | 69.6 | 32.0 | .460 | 14.5 | 5.4 | .375 | 29.4 | 22.3 | .760 |
Regular Season Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | SG | 32 | 81 | 81 | 2795 | 20.3 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 13.9 | 6.6 | .477 | 4.9 | 2.1 | .429 | 5.7 | 4.9 | .868 |
| Rik Smits | C | 31 | 73 | 69 | 2085 | 21.0 | 8.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 17.9 | 8.9 | .495 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.1 | 3.2 | .783 |
| Jalen Rose | SF | 25 | 82 | 0 | 1706 | 16.3 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 12.8 | 6.1 | .478 | 1.5 | 0.5 | .342 | 4.8 | 3.5 | .728 |
| Chris Mullin | SF | 34 | 82 | 82 | 2177 | 15.3 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 11.4 | 5.5 | .481 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .440 | 2.7 | 2.5 | .939 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 29 | 82 | 12 | 2191 | 12.9 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 8.7 | 4.2 | .481 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 6.5 | 4.6 | .696 |
| Travis Best | PG | 25 | 82 | 0 | 1547 | 12.4 | 2.8 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 11.2 | 4.7 | .419 | 1.6 | 0.5 | .300 | 3.0 | 2.6 | .855 |
| Austin Croshere | PF | 22 | 26 | 0 | 243 | 11.3 | 6.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 12.7 | 4.7 | .372 | 1.9 | 0.6 | .308 | 2.1 | 1.2 | .571 |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 25 | 65 | 1 | 874 | 10.8 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 9.1 | 3.5 | .383 | 3.5 | 1.3 | .376 | 2.8 | 2.4 | .855 |
| Dale Davis | C | 28 | 78 | 78 | 2174 | 10.4 | 10.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 8.2 | 4.5 | .548 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 1.3 | .465 | |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 32 | 82 | 82 | 2413 | 10.1 | 4.8 | 10.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 8.9 | 3.7 | .416 | 2.0 | 0.6 | .314 | 2.7 | 2.0 | .761 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 31 | 57 | 4 | 1316 | 9.8 | 5.8 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 8.9 | 4.1 | .459 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .235 | 2.1 | 1.5 | .714 |
| Mark West | C | 37 | 15 | 1 | 105 | 7.9 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 7.2 | 3.4 | .476 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .500 | |
| Mark Pope | SF | 25 | 28 | 0 | 193 | 7.3 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 7.6 | 2.6 | .341 | 0.6 | 0.2 | .333 | 3.2 | 1.9 | .588 |
| Etdrick Bohannon | PF | 24 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0.0 | 19.6 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 9.8 | 13.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Playoff Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rik Smits | C | 31 | 16 | 16 | 476 | 20.0 | 6.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 15.8 | 7.9 | .502 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.8 | 4.2 | .859 |
| Reggie Miller | SG | 32 | 16 | 16 | 628 | 18.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 13.2 | 5.6 | .426 | 5.4 | 2.2 | .400 | 5.4 | 4.9 | .904 |
| Jalen Rose | SF | 25 | 15 | 0 | 293 | 15.0 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 12.3 | 5.9 | .480 | 2.0 | 0.7 | .375 | 3.3 | 2.5 | .741 |
| Travis Best | PG | 25 | 16 | 0 | 280 | 12.5 | 2.1 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 9.3 | 3.5 | .375 | 2.3 | 0.6 | .278 | 5.5 | 4.9 | .884 |
| Chris Mullin | SF | 34 | 16 | 16 | 412 | 12.4 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 9.9 | 4.5 | .460 | 4.5 | 1.7 | .385 | 1.8 | 1.6 | .857 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 29 | 16 | 0 | 459 | 11.5 | 8.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 7.1 | 3.3 | .462 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.4 | 4.9 | .670 | |
| Dale Davis | C | 28 | 16 | 16 | 466 | 10.9 | 9.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 6.6 | 4.3 | .651 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 2.2 | .453 | |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 32 | 16 | 16 | 494 | 10.7 | 5.3 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 9.3 | 3.9 | .417 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .378 | 2.5 | 2.0 | .794 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 31 | 15 | 0 | 284 | 8.5 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 8.7 | 2.9 | .333 | 1.3 | 0.4 | .300 | 2.9 | 2.3 | .783 |
| Mark Pope | SF | 25 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 5.1 | 3.4 | .667 | 0.9 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.000 |
| Mark West | C | 37 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 9.8 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 3.3 | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.8 | 3.3 | .333 | |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 25 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 16.2 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.4 | 5.4 | .375 | 3.6 | 1.8 | .500 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 1.000 |
Regular Season Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | SG | 32 | 81 | 81 | 2795 | 1578 | 232 | 171 | 78 | 11 | 128 | 1081 | 516 | .477 | 382 | 164 | .429 | 440 | 382 | .868 |
| Rik Smits | C | 31 | 73 | 69 | 2085 | 1216 | 505 | 101 | 40 | 88 | 134 | 1038 | 514 | .495 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 240 | 188 | .783 |
| Chris Mullin | SF | 34 | 82 | 82 | 2177 | 927 | 249 | 186 | 95 | 39 | 117 | 692 | 333 | .481 | 243 | 107 | .440 | 164 | 154 | .939 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 29 | 82 | 12 | 2191 | 785 | 560 | 61 | 45 | 72 | 103 | 528 | 254 | .481 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 398 | 277 | .696 |
| Jalen Rose | SF | 25 | 82 | 0 | 1706 | 771 | 195 | 155 | 56 | 14 | 132 | 607 | 290 | .478 | 73 | 25 | .342 | 228 | 166 | .728 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 32 | 82 | 82 | 2413 | 678 | 322 | 713 | 84 | 2 | 174 | 598 | 249 | .416 | 137 | 43 | .314 | 180 | 137 | .761 |
| Dale Davis | C | 28 | 78 | 78 | 2174 | 626 | 611 | 70 | 51 | 87 | 73 | 498 | 273 | .548 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 80 | .465 | |
| Travis Best | PG | 25 | 82 | 0 | 1547 | 535 | 122 | 281 | 85 | 5 | 111 | 480 | 201 | .419 | 70 | 21 | .300 | 131 | 112 | .855 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 31 | 57 | 4 | 1316 | 359 | 211 | 88 | 57 | 30 | 79 | 327 | 150 | .459 | 17 | 4 | .235 | 77 | 55 | .714 |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 25 | 65 | 1 | 874 | 261 | 123 | 45 | 40 | 3 | 22 | 222 | 85 | .383 | 85 | 32 | .376 | 69 | 59 | .855 |
| Austin Croshere | PF | 22 | 26 | 0 | 243 | 76 | 45 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 86 | 32 | .372 | 13 | 4 | .308 | 14 | 8 | .571 |
| Mark Pope | SF | 25 | 28 | 0 | 193 | 39 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 41 | 14 | .341 | 3 | 1 | .333 | 17 | 10 | .588 |
| Mark West | C | 37 | 15 | 1 | 105 | 23 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 10 | .476 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | .500 | |
| Etdrick Bohannon | PF | 24 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 19830 | 7874 | 3222 | 1889 | 645 | 368 | 1107 | 6223 | 2921 | .469 | 1029 | 401 | .390 | 2136 | 1631 | .764 |
Playoff Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | SG | 32 | 16 | 16 | 628 | 319 | 28 | 32 | 19 | 3 | 27 | 230 | 98 | .426 | 95 | 38 | .400 | 94 | 85 | .904 |
| Rik Smits | C | 31 | 16 | 16 | 476 | 265 | 85 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 21 | 209 | 105 | .502 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 64 | 55 | .859 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 32 | 16 | 16 | 494 | 147 | 73 | 133 | 23 | 0 | 47 | 127 | 53 | .417 | 37 | 14 | .378 | 34 | 27 | .794 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 29 | 16 | 0 | 459 | 147 | 108 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 25 | 91 | 42 | .462 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 63 | .670 | |
| Chris Mullin | SF | 34 | 16 | 16 | 412 | 142 | 57 | 23 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 113 | 52 | .460 | 52 | 20 | .385 | 21 | 18 | .857 |
| Dale Davis | C | 28 | 16 | 16 | 466 | 141 | 120 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 21 | 86 | 56 | .651 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 29 | .453 | |
| Jalen Rose | SF | 25 | 15 | 0 | 293 | 122 | 27 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 100 | 48 | .480 | 16 | 6 | .375 | 27 | 20 | .741 |
| Travis Best | PG | 25 | 16 | 0 | 280 | 97 | 16 | 31 | 11 | 3 | 19 | 72 | 27 | .375 | 18 | 5 | .278 | 43 | 38 | .884 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 31 | 15 | 0 | 284 | 67 | 40 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 69 | 23 | .333 | 10 | 3 | .300 | 23 | 18 | .783 |
| Mark Pope | SF | 25 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | .667 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 25 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | .375 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Mark West | C | 37 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | .333 | |
| Team Totals | 16 | 16 | 3865 | 1468 | 564 | 306 | 115 | 79 | 221 | 1113 | 512 | .460 | 232 | 87 | .375 | 470 | 357 | .760 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | Primary Offensive Engine (1.1) | 34.5 | High (1.2) | 19.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 67.58 | As Indiana’s primary perimeter scorer, Miller combined constant off-ball movement with high-volume shooting; his 4.7 three-point attempts per game came at 42.9%, and retrospective coverage identifies the 1997-98 campaign as a defining season for his clutch shooting and expanding three-point volume. (SI) | MVP voting (16th), All-Star, All-NBA Third Team |
| Rik Smits | Primary Interior Scoring Hub (1.05) | 28.6 | High (1.2) | 16.7 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 67.28 | Smits gave Bird a reliable half-court scoring outlet at center, combining his size with a soft face-up game while remaining a major part of the starting group; contemporary-style retrospective analysis of the 1997-98 lineup places him alongside Miller, Jackson, Mullin and Dale Davis as one of Indiana’s core pieces. (Bleacher Report) | MVP voting (16th), All-Star |
| Mark Jackson | Lead Playmaking Hub (1.05) | 29.4 | Medium (1.1) | 8.3 | 3.9 | 8.7 | 1.0 | 50.59 | Jackson was the team’s possession organizer, using his deliberate pace and post-oriented point-guard style to create passing angles rather than chase scoring volume; ESPN’s retrospective on the Bird-era Pacers specifically describes Indiana’s strength as players accepting defined roles and executing the system together. (ESPN) | — |
| Dale Davis | Defensive Rebounding Anchor (1.05) | 27.9 | Medium (1.1) | 8.0 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 42.74 | Davis supplied the physical interior presence that balanced Smits, with 3.0 offensive rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game reflecting a role built around second chances and paint defense; contemporary reporting on Indiana’s Bird-era approach emphasized its commitment to disciplined team defense and role acceptance. (AS.com) | — |
| Antonio Davis | Second-Unit Interior Enforcer (1.05) | 26.7 | Medium (1.1) | 9.6 | 6.8 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 42.73 | Coming off the bench, Davis functioned as a physical change-up in the frontcourt, attacking offensive glass, defending bigger bodies and finishing around the rim; retrospective basketball coverage describes him as a dependable reserve whose physical play and rebounding made him capable of starting for other teams. (Bleacher Report) | — |
| Chris Mullin | Spacing Specialist Wing (1.05) | 26.5 | Medium (1.1) | 11.3 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 42.27 | Mullin’s value came from giving Indiana another intelligent perimeter release valve, particularly as a catch-and-shoot threat who could move the ball without dominating possessions; a March 1998 San Francisco Chronicle report around his return to Oakland highlighted how quickly he had become integrated with his new Pacers teammates. (SFGate) | — |
| Jalen Rose | Slashing Wing Creator (1.0) | 20.8 | Medium (1.1) | 9.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 32.12 | Rose was still a developing wing creator rather than a featured scorer, but Bird’s arrival gave him a clearer role and more room to attack; retrospective reporting notes that his 1997-98 season marked the beginning of his growth from a marginal rotation scorer into a more dependable NBA contributor. (Sportscasting | Pure Sports) | — |
| Travis Best | Backup Penetration Guard (1.0) | 18.9 | Medium (1.1) | 6.5 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 27.50 | Best brought a faster change of pace behind Jackson, with enough burst to pressure the lane and create shots without needing the offense built around him; ESPN’s Bird-era evaluation later described him as a quick, determined penetrator who could also take on defensive assignments at point guard. (ESPN) | — |
| Derrick McKey | Veteran Defensive Wing (1.0) | 23.1 | Low (1.0) | 6.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 26.00 | McKey’s season was shaped by his return from an Achilles injury, leaving him in a reduced rotation role while his veteran defensive intelligence remained useful; later reporting from the Indiana market described him as a steady, understated professional whose value extended beyond the box score. (NBA) | — |
| Fred Hoiberg | Movement Shooter Reserve (1.0) | 13.4 | Low (1.0) | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 14.40 | Hoiberg operated as a floor-spacing reserve, entering games to provide perimeter shooting without demanding the ball; Iowa State Daily coverage during the season described him as a reserve who had already earned enough trust to play more than 15 minutes per night while contributing from three-point range. (Iowa State Daily) | — |
| Austin Croshere | Rookie Stretch-Four Project (1.0) | 9.3 | Low (1.0) | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 10.80 | Croshere’s rookie role was developmental frontcourt depth, with his 26 appearances coming in short stretches rather than a fixed rotation slot; a contemporary Washington Post report noted that a broken foot ended his season and forced Indiana to reactivate veteran Mark West. (The Washington Post) | — |
| Mark West | Veteran Rim-Protection Reserve (1.0) | 7.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 6.00 | West served as emergency center depth, providing a veteran interior body when injuries disrupted Indiana’s frontcourt rotation; contemporary reporting specifically noted his activation when Croshere went down, illustrating the situational nature of his role. (The Washington Post) | — |
| Mark Pope | Rookie Frontcourt Depth Piece (1.0) | 6.9 | Low (1.0) | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.80 | Pope had a limited rookie role in Indiana’s veteran-heavy rotation, appearing primarily as frontcourt depth while the established Davis-Smits combination absorbed most of the meaningful interior workload; later AP reporting confirms that his NBA career began with Indiana after his Kentucky playing career. (AP News) | — |
| Etdrick Bohannon | Emergency Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) | 2.2 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 3.60 | Limited contemporary independent coverage is available on Bohannon’s 1997-98 role, but the available season context places him strictly in emergency frontcourt depth behind Indiana’s established big-man rotation; his five appearances and brief stints reflect that situational usage. | — |
| Team Totals | — | 241.8 | — | 96.0 | 39.3 | 23.0 | 12.4 | 439.42 | Indiana’s 1997-98 rotation combined a high-volume perimeter scoring engine with a structured interior tandem and unusually deep veteran reserve group. | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Miller | Primary Playoff Scoring Engine (1.1) | 39.3 | High (1.2) | 19.9 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 66.26 | Miller remained Indiana’s late-clock release valve, working through screens and creating separation without needing prolonged possessions. His biggest series moment came when he used an inbounds screen to free himself against Chicago and hit the 0.7-second winner in Game 4, even after struggling with his ankle. (TalkSport) | MVP voting (16th), All-Star, All-NBA Third Team |
| Rik Smits | Primary Interior Scoring Hub (1.05) | 29.8 | High (1.2) | 16.6 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 61.99 | Smits was Indiana’s interior scoring counter to Chicago’s physical front line, with his jumper giving the Pacers a way to attack without forcing everything through Miller. In Game 6, he erupted for 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting, repeatedly punishing Chicago’s interior coverage with his touch around the lane. (The Washington Post) | All-Star |
| Mark Jackson | Franchise Floor General (1.05) | 30.9 | Medium (1.1) | 9.2 | 4.6 | 8.3 | 1.4 | 54.29 | Jackson organized Indiana’s half-court offense and was especially important when the Pacers needed to settle the game after Chicago’s defensive pressure. The Bulls repeatedly attacked him with Scottie Pippen, but Jackson still produced a 15-assist performance against New York before Chicago’s pressure became a defining matchup in the conference finals. (Los Angeles Times) | — |
| Antonio Davis | Interior Defensive Counterweight (1.05) | 28.7 | Medium (1.1) | 9.2 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 43.43 | Davis supplied the physical frontcourt work that allowed Indiana to stay big without making Smits carry every defensive assignment. He was particularly valuable against Chicago’s size and attacked the glass aggressively; his 11 rebounds in Game 1 illustrated the role, while his defense also put him directly into the Jordan-Pippen matchup mix late in the series. (Playmaker Stats) | — |
| Dale Davis | Starting Defensive Rebounding Anchor (1.05) | 29.1 | Medium (1.1) | 8.8 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 42.74 | Davis was Indiana’s physical cleanup man, doing the dirty work on the glass while providing a strong interior defensive presence. Chicago’s offense occasionally lost track of him as a scorer, and his 19-point Game 6 performance became a major part of Indiana’s upset bid, with reporting noting how he exposed the Bulls’ interior defense. (The Washington Post) | — |
| Chris Mullin | Veteran Spacing Connector (1.05) | 25.8 | Medium (1.1) | 8.9 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 32.34 | Mullin’s playoff value came from keeping the floor organized and supplying a veteran shooting threat beside Miller. Chicago’s defensive plan specifically targeted his limited volume in Game 1, when he took only four shots and was removed in the fourth quarter, showing how important his perimeter spacing was to Indiana’s offensive balance. (Los Angeles Times) | — |
| Jalen Rose | Second-Unit Wing Creator (1.0) | 19.5 | Medium (1.1) | 8.1 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 28.38 | Rose was Indiana’s developing bench creator, bringing a different downhill element whenever Miller and Jackson needed relief. His role was significant enough that later retrospective coverage highlighted his frustration at watching the final minutes of Game 7 from the bench, while his scoring helped Indiana briefly erase Chicago’s fourth-quarter advantage. (Basketball Network) | — |
| Travis Best | Change-of-Pace Backup Guard (1.0) | 17.5 | Low (1.0) | 6.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 19.80 | Best supplied speed and penetration behind Jackson, giving Indiana a different tempo when its veteran half-court group became stagnant. His role showed up most clearly in Game 6, when a gutsy pass to Dale Davis and a driving layup helped revive Indiana during a critical stretch against Chicago. (The Washington Post) TalkSport | — |
| Derrick McKey | Defensive Matchup Wing (1.0) | 18.9 | Low (1.0) | 4.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 18.00 | McKey was primarily a defensive matchup piece, used for his length and experience rather than offensive creation. Contemporary coverage visually captured him defending Jordan during the conference finals, while his low offensive workload reflected a playoff role built around defensive assignments and veteran stability. (Getty Images) | — |
| Fred Hoiberg | Perimeter Shooting Reserve (1.0) | 10.0 | Low (1.0) | 4.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 15.00 | Hoiberg was a situational perimeter reserve whose minutes depended heavily on matchup and game flow. Independent contemporary coverage is limited, but archival reporting shows Indiana entering the series with unusual depth and confidence, while Hoiberg’s appearance against Chicago in Game 5 illustrates his emergency shooting and spacing function. (Getty Images) Sezam NBA Archive | — |
| Mark Pope | Emergency Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) | 6.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 4.40 | Pope occupied a very narrow reserve role on a veteran frontcourt, appearing mainly when Indiana needed another body against Chicago’s size. Contemporary reporting on his NBA career is limited, although retrospective coverage confirms that his first professional season with Indiana coincided with the Pacers’ run to the 1998 Eastern Conference finals. (Deseret News) | — |
| Mark West | Veteran Emergency Center (1.0) | 2.8 | Low (1.0) | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.20 | West was strictly emergency center depth by the postseason, with his value coming from experience rather than an offensive role. Contemporary reporting noted that he was activated after Austin Croshere’s injury, and his four playoff appearances confirm how narrowly Larry Bird used him once the rotation tightened. (CBS News) ESPN | — |
| Team Totals | — | 241.6 | — | 91.8 | 35.3 | 19.1 | 12.1 | 388.83 | Indiana’s 1998 playoff identity centered on Miller’s shot creation, Smits’ interior scoring, Jackson’s orchestration and a physical defensive frontcourt. The Pacers pushed Chicago to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals, with their depth and veteran role definition repeatedly keeping the series competitive. (si.com) | Eastern Conference Finals (1998) |