When you think about the Indiana Pacers, the image that usually pops up is Reggie Miller. Reggie hitting eight points in nine seconds. Reggie bowing to the MSG crowd. But honestly, if you were watching closely during that magical turn-of-the-century run, there was a 6-foot-8 lefty with a smooth jumper and a lot of Detroit "bad boy" energy who was actually doing the heavy lifting.
I’m talking about Jalen Rose.
Most people today know him as the guy on TV or the podcaster with the trademark glasses, but for a few years in Indianapolis, Jalen was the engine. It wasn't always easy, though. He basically went from being a benchwarmer under one legendary coach to being "The Guy" under another. His time with the Indiana Pacers is a masterclass in how much fit and coaching actually matter in the NBA.
From the Bench to the MIP
When Jalen first got to Indy in 1996, things were... rocky. Larry Brown was the coach back then. Brown is a Hall of Famer, but he’s also notoriously tough on young players who don't play "the right way" (his way). Jalen wanted to be a point guard. Brown saw a swingman who needed to earn his minutes.
The result? Jalen spent a lot of time watching from the sidelines. He had 20 DNPs (Did Not Play) in his first season. Think about that: a member of the Fab Five, one of the most famous college players ever, just sitting there in a warm-up suit while Mark Jackson and Reggie Miller ran the show.
Everything flipped when Larry Bird took over in 1997.
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Bird saw something Larry Brown didn't. He didn't just see a "miscast" player; he saw a versatile weapon who could play three positions. Bird famously told the media that people had Jalen all wrong. He moved Rose into a primary scoring role, and by the 1999-00 season, the transformation was complete.
That year, Jalen Rose averaged 18.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He led the Pacers in scoring, ending Reggie Miller’s decade-long streak as the team's top bucket-getter. He won the NBA Most Improved Player award, and honestly, it wasn't even that close. He was the first Pacer to ever win it.
The 2000 NBA Finals: Jalen vs. The Lakers
If you want to know how good Jalen Rose really was, go back and watch the 2000 NBA Finals. The Pacers were heavy underdogs against Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Shaq was at the absolute peak of his powers, just destroying everything in the paint.
Reggie Miller struggled in Game 1, shooting 1-for-16. It could have been a total blowout series if not for Jalen.
Rose stepped up and averaged 25 points per game in that series. In Game 5, with the Pacers facing elimination at home, Jalen went off. He dropped 32 points, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor. He was hitting threes, getting to the line, and basically willing Indy to a 120-87 blowout win. It was the Lakers' worst Finals loss since 1985.
There’s also that infamous moment in Game 2 where Jalen "accidentally on purpose" put his foot under Kobe Bryant after a jump shot. Kobe went down with a sprained ankle and missed Game 3. Jalen admitted years later on his podcast that he did it on purpose. It’s one of those gritty, old-school NBA stories that reminds you Jalen brought that Detroit toughness to a Pacers team that usually relied on finesse and shooting.
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The Isiah Thomas Era and the Sudden Exit
By 2001, Jalen was at his statistical peak. He averaged over 20 points a game. He was the face of the franchise alongside Reggie. But the vibes in the locker room started to shift. Larry Bird stepped down, and Isiah Thomas—Jalen's childhood idol from Detroit—took the reins.
You’d think a Detroit kid playing for a Detroit legend would be a match made in heaven. It wasn't.
The relationship between Jalen and Isiah soured fast. There were whispers about egos clashing and "personal issues." In February 2002, the Pacers did the unthinkable. They traded their leading scorer. Jalen was sent to the Chicago Bulls in a massive seven-player deal that brought back Ron Artest (later Metta Sandiford-Artest) and Brad Miller.
It was a shocker. Pacers president Donnie Walsh said it was a "painful" decision, but Rose's agent, David Falk, was much more blunt. He basically said Isiah Thomas had pushed Jalen out. Whether it was about the CBA (which Isiah had owned) or just a clash of personalities, the Jalen Rose era in Indiana ended way sooner than it should have.
Why Jalen’s Legacy in Indy Still Matters
We often talk about the "Brawl at the Palace" era or the Reggie Miller years, but that 1998-2002 window was arguably the best basketball the Pacers ever played. They were deep, they were tough, and Jalen Rose was the X-factor.
He proved that a "point forward" could work in a structured system. He also paved the way for the next generation of versatile Pacers wings like Paul George and Danny Granger.
Beyond the court, Jalen’s impact is still felt through his philanthropy. He started the Jalen Rose Foundation in 2000 while he was still playing for the Pacers. That eventually led to his leadership academy in Detroit, which has helped hundreds of kids get to college. He’s always been more than just a basketball player, and that started during his time in Indiana.
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What You Can Do Next
If you're a Pacers fan or just a student of the game, here are a few ways to dive deeper into this era:
- Watch the Game 5 2000 Finals Replay: Look for Jalen's mid-range game. In a modern NBA that hates the "long two," Jalen made it look like an art form.
- Check out "Winning Time" (Reggie Miller 30 for 30): While it focuses on the Knicks rivalry, pay attention to the roster depth during the 2000 season.
- Analyze the Trade: Look at the 2002 trade stats. While losing Jalen hurt, getting Ron Artest and Brad Miller actually set the stage for the Pacers' dominant 61-win season in 2004. It’s one of the most "balanced" blockbusters in NBA history.
Jalen Rose didn't get his jersey retired in the rafters at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but without him, that 2000 Finals banner doesn't exist. He gave the people what they wanted—and then some.