Presented here is Mel Daniels' game worn jersey from the 1974 ABA All-Star game in Norfolk, VA and his shorts from the 1972 game in Louisville.
You could argue Mel Daniels was the most consistent star in the entire nine-year history of the ABA. The Detroit native starred in college for the University of New Mexico and then joined the upstart ABA, with his greatest success coming with the Indiana Pacers. Mel anchored the center position for many great Pacers teams on his way to the Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2012).
Daniels’ credentials read like the ABA’s version of Bill Russell. His accomplishments included:
-3 Time ABA Champion
-2 Time ABA MVP
-7 Time ABA All-Star
-All-Star Game MVP (1969)
-4 Time ABA 1st Team
-3 Time ABA Rebounding Leader
-ABA Rookie of the Year (1968)
-All-Time ABA team
-#34 retired by the Pacers
After retiring as a player, Daniels became an Assistant Coach at Indiana State where he mentored some guy named Larry Bird. Daniels then became a well-respected NBA Assistant Coach, Scout and Executive for the Pacers. He passed away in 2015.