Let me just start by saying thank you to Mel Daniels. He was a great NBA and ABA player. He was a phenom when it came to rebounding and scoring, for his entire time in the ABA. He was honored as a member of the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Throughout Daniels’ career he played center, which is why he received the nickname Big Mel. At the time Mel stood at 6’9 which was considered tall. Today, players like Kevin Durant, Jonathan Isaac, Kevin Love, Ryan Anderson and even the retired Magic Johnson all play on the perimeter at the same height as Daniels. These are all talented players, yet if you are a 6’9″ center today, you are considered undersized. While some players like Draymond Green and Julius Randle are able to be effective against taller players (following in the footsteps of the retired Dennis Rodman), it is still a challenge. But from what I have read and seen, I believe that Melvin Daniels would still be a very productive player in the NBA today.

Let’s take a look at Daniels’ stats. He averaged an unbelievable 15 rebounds for his entire career. His best year saw an average of 18 rebounds per game, pulling down as many as 25 rebounds in one night. Daniels was not only a great rebounder, he could also score. He ranks 4th all-time in scoring for the ABA with 11,739 career points. And he did not have a signature offensive move like Kareem Abdul Jabaar’s skyhook. He also did not benefit from playing with an exceptional lead guard like Karl Malone had in John Stockton. He best scoring season was 24 points per game.

Mel Daniels impacted the game of basketball greatly. He led his Pacers to three ABA titles. Not too many people remember Melvin Daniels, but he is easily one of the greatest players of all time. He helped pave the way for all of the talented and hard working players in the NBA who have made basketball surge in popularity. Thank you Mel Daniels for all you have done for the game of basketball.