Would you retire JO's number?

[mirrornick]

Just curious what the older Pacers fans think. Do you guys think JO should have his jersey retired? He was always a pacer at heart and unfortunately injuries cut his prime. The brawl also ruined the pacers chance at winning a ring.

I personally don't think JO will make it into the HOF due to a short prime, but I do think he should get his jersey retired.

[Wizop]

no, I do not. I'd retire Rik Smit's number though. and the big injustice is Freddie Lewis.

[Tom White]

No, I would not retire his number. Could make a post a mile long as to why not, but I'll just leave it at NO.

[Scoot McGroot]

No, I would not retire his number. Could make a post a mile long as to why not, but I'll just leave it at NO.

Make one a mile long. We’d appreciate the reading.

[Scoot McGroot]

no, I do not. I'd retire Rik Smit's number though. and the big injustice is Freddie Lewis.

Yup. I’m with you. Maybe he gets it retired one day, but there’s several I’d want to see before I see JO retired.

[Miller4ever]

The Pacers have retired two types of numbers: ABA champions, and Reggie Miller, who has set the bar at 18 years of service with multiple all-star appearances, NBA records, the narrative, and a Final appearance. JO was very good, but not a transcendental/generational player. There are definitely Pacers in both ABA and NBA history that have stronger cases.

[Topofthekey]

No

I rate even Granger ahead of him, in terms of eligibility

Speaking of which, how do you even retire player numbers these days?

I mean, players move around a lot more these days, so you rarely see players like Reggie or Karl Malone and John Stockton, Gary Payton, Ewing, etc, players who were synonymous with their franchise anymore

Taking a look around the league now, Kawhi got traded, PG13 got traded, CP3 moved around a bunch, etc. These players certainly do not lack the talent to put their stamp on a franchise, but due to the transient nature of the league now, seems like other than winning a championship (or possibly multiple championships) for a franchise, doesn't seem like many players are going to have their number retired by their teams

[pacers33granger]

There are definitely Pacers in both ABA and NBA history that have stronger cases.

I wouldn't retire JO's, but who would you have as stronger cases (excluding ABA)? JO's Pacer resume stacks up there with anyone I can think of:

- 6 straight all star selections (1 more than Reggie; most by a Pacer in the NBA I think?)
- Averaged 20/10/2 with 2.4 blocks per game during that span
- 01-02 MIP
- Consistently in the top 10 in block stats for us
- 3rd in MVP voting behind Garnett/TD in 03-04 (I honestly can't remember another Pacer being higher)
- leader of the team that won 61 games (most all time)

Only difference is guys who stuck here their entire career like Smits. It's not an incredible resume and not worthy of jersey retirement imo, but definitely up there for non-Reggie NBA Pacers and I'd have a hard time not putting him 2nd right now.

[Scoot McGroot]

No

I rate even Granger ahead of him, in terms of eligibility

Speaking of which, how do you even retire player numbers these days?

I mean, players move around a lot more these days, so you rarely see players like Reggie or Karl Malone and John Stockton, Gary Payton, Ewing, etc, players who were synonymous with their franchise anymore

Taking a look around the league now, Kawhi got traded, PG13 got traded, CP3 moved around a bunch, etc. These players certainly do not lack the talent to put their stamp on a franchise, but due to the transient nature of the league now, seems like other than winning a championship (or possibly multiple championships) for a franchise, doesn't seem like many players are going to have their number retired by their teams

Granger!?!? love the guy, but cannot ever imagine him having his number retired. I’d see all the usual suspects, and I’d have a hard time seeing him even before a Derrick McKey.

But as for how you figure out how to retire jerseys? Remember, even if the guys you listed, Malone, Payton, and Ewing all played elsewhere before the end of their careers. You retire based on what they did with your franchise. Kawhi May have a case with the Spurs, Harden only with the Rockets so far, etc. CP3? Hard to say. He’ll have split his career almost in 3rds by the end of it, so maybe whenever feels that he made a major impact on their franchise. Clippers most of all, maybe?