Bill Bevan

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Pacers Sports & Entertainment is saddened to learn of the passing of former official scorer Bill Bevan. For more than 50 years, starting with the ABA and transcending to the NBA, Bill was extremely well-liked by players, referees, league officials and his colleagues on the stat crew. Our sincere condolences go to his family, many friends and everyone who had the joy of knowing him.

statement-on-the-passing-of-bill-bevan

Statement on the Passing of Bill Bevan

Mark Montieth is our resident feature writer and Pacers historian. He has covered the team for decades and recently wrote a book on the formation of the franchise.

In 2018, Montieth cranked out a number of memorable features for Pacers.com on stories big and small, from key moments in the 2018 playoff run to historical lessons on important figures behind the scenes.

We've picked out 13 of our favorite Montieth stories from the past year. Here they are, presented in chronological order:

One of the coolest stories of 2017 belonged to Wilkins, a 37-year-old forward who had last played in the NBA in 2013 but made the 2017-18 Pacers out of training camp. Nate McMillan, who coached Wilkins as rookie in Seattle from 2004-05, loved the leadership Wilkins brought to his young team, while Wilkins also showed in the preseason that he was still capable of being a knockdown shooter.

Still, Wilkins knew that his time in Indiana was finite. His contract was only guaranteed until early January and sure enough, the Pacers' front office informed him on Jan. 6 that he would be released the next day.

But then something unexpected happened. Bojan Bogdanovic was unable to play that night against the Chicago Bulls, so McMillan tapped Wilkins to start in a sort of send-off game. The veteran scored 11 points in 22 minutes, going 3-for-6 from 3-point range.

He was released the next day, but graciously talked to the media following practice. Montieth chronicled Wilkins' classy and unique departure in this story.

Wilkins remained in touch with last year's team throughout their playoff run, attending many more games in person. He is currently working for the National Basketball Players Association.

Throughout the year, Montieth writes on each Hickory honoree that is honored at a designated Hickory game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Hinkle, the legendary Butler coach, was the Hickory honoree in February.

Most Hoosier residents know the name that decorates one of college basketball's most historic arenas, but how many know in detail about the career of a man who was a mainstay in Butler athletics for nearly half a century?

Montieth wrote about Hinkle's legacy, from coaching three sports to recruiting the great Bobby Plump, another former Hickory honoree.

Darren Collison's signing in the summer of 2017 did not come with much fanfare. But the 30-year-old point guard seemingly found a home in his ninth season and his second stint with the Pacers.

Collison enjoyed quite possibly his best season in his return to Indiana, leading the NBA in both 3-point percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio in 2017-18. He also took on more of a mentor role as one of the elder statesmen in the Pacers' locker room, something that has continued into the 2018-19 campaign.

In this piece, Montieth examines how Collison was able to have a breakout season at this point in his career.

McMillan's Calm Hides a Churning Competitive Spirit

Ahead of the Pacers' 2018 playoff series with the Cavaliers, Montieth took a deeper look at Pacers coach Nate McMillan, the unassuming veteran coach who steered the team that stunned the NBA by winning 48 games in the 2017-18 regular season.

Montieth delves into McMillan's steely demeanor and how he was able to win over the trust of the Pacers' locker room.

The story includes insight from several Pacers players, longtime assistant coach Dan Burke, and legendary Pacers executives Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh.

Montieth writes a feature story after every home Pacers game in the season, and none were more memorable in 2018 than Game 3 against the Cavs.

The Pacers' first home playoff game of the year featured an unexpected hero in Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic, who scored 30 points and tied a franchise playoff record by burying seven 3-pointers, all the while performing admirably in the herculean task of guarding LeBron James.

That night, Montieth wrote about Bogdanovic's two-way brilliance in a game that Pacers fans won't soon forget.

Bevan, Link to the Pacers' Birth, Retires

When the 2017-18 Pacers season came to an end, so too did the career of Bill Bevan, a member of the Pacers' stat crew for all 51 seasons up to that point and the team's official scorekeeper for nearly 49 seasons.

Pacers fans who have attended games over the years likely recognized Bevan's face, but might not know his name or his story. Montieth did him justice upon retirement, telling the tale of a man instrumental to Pacers games behind the scenes for over five decades.

Under Walsh, Pacers Moved Away From Guesswork at Draft

Heading into each NBA Draft, Montieth typically churns out one historical look at the Pacers' draft history. This year, he focused on Walsh's tenure as general manager and how he helped modernize the pre-draft process.

As general manager, Walsh decided to bring in UCLA guard Reggie Miller for a pre-draft interview in 1987, believed to be the first pre-draft interview in franchise history. We all know how that story turns out.

Montieth looks back at some of Walsh's most memorable draft picks, from Rik Smits to Dale Davis to Travis Best.

An Alford Finally Gets a Shot with Pacers

An interesting story heading into the 2018 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas was the inclusion of Bryce Alford on the Pacers roster. Bryce's father, Steve Alford, was of course the legendary Indiana basketball star who helped lead Indiana University to the national title in 1987.

The Pacers famously (and correctly) passed on Alford in the draft that year, choosing Miller instead. But an Alford finally wore a Pacers uniform this past summer, when Alford played for Indiana in Las Vegas.

Though he only lived in Indiana for the first six months of his life, Bryce Alford was acutely aware of his father's connection to the state and entertained reporters this summer with some good-natured ribbing of his famous dad.

Doug McDermott was one of the Pacers' marquee signings in free agency in the summer of 2018. On his first day in Indiana, McDermott revealed that he rooted for the Pacers in childhood and idolized Miller.

Montieth examined the connection between the two sharpshooters, who met when Miller served as the color commentator for one of McDermott's NCAA Tournament games while he was at Creighton.

Montieth's story also delves into McDermott's fit with the Pacers and how Indiana could provide some stability to his career.

Q&A: Kevin Pritchard on the State of the Pacers Entering Training Camp

Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Montieth sat down with Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard for a one-on-one interview on the state of the franchise.

The wide-ranging discussion covered everything from Victor Oladipo's leadership to Lance Stephenson's departure to the longterm future of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis.

Fan Passion Fueled Muncie's Basketball Tradition

Muncie Central High School, winner of eight basketball state championships, was the honoree for the first Hickory game of the 2017-18 season.

Montieth took a deep dive into the rich basketball tradition of Muncie in this story, focusing in particular on the die-hard fans that have supported the Bearcats over the decades.

Holiday Season Arrives Just In Time for Pacers

The Pacers took Aaron Holiday with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Though Holiday is likely the franchise point guard of the future, the 21-year-old saw limited playing time through the first month of the rookie season.

But when Victor Oladipo went down with an ankle injury in the opening minutes of a Nov. 17 game against the Hawks, Holiday was thrown to the fire. He stepped up to the challenge, scoring 12 points in just over 15 minutes off the bench and igniting the crowd with his energy and hustle.

Montieth chronicled the night that the young Pacers guard first won over Indiana fans.

The dominant storyline over the past month has been the play of 22-year-old Pacers center Myles Turner. The fourth-year big man got off to an admittedly slow start to the season, but has been sensational in December.

Turner currently leads the NBA in blocked shots and has recorded a double-double in eight of 12 games this month, including his last four.

Montieth wrote about Turner's emergence after one of his best performances, a 26-point, 12-rebound, five-block evisceration of the Wizards on Dec. 10.

Have a question for Mark? Want it to be on Pacers.com? Email him at askmontieth@gmail.com and you could be featured in his next mailbag.

Mark Montieth's book on the formation and groundbreaking seasons of the Pacers, "Reborn: The Pacers and the Return of Pro Basketball to Indianapolis," is available in bookstores throughout Indiana and on Amazon.com.

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Indiana Pacers. All opinions expressed by Mark Montieth are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Indiana Pacers, their partners, or sponsors.

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The Best Mark Montieth Stories of 2018

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An intriguing scenario lurks within the Pacers roster, one that could address some of their primary concerns without the messiness of a major roster change. The trial runs have revealed flaws, however, and tweaks will have to be made before a full-scale version of it can be released.

Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis are both 6-foot-11, 22-year-old players with solid bodies of work behind them and the potential for much greater accomplishments ahead of them.
They generally alternated at center this season but playing them together seems like a natural progression, not to mention a strategy that could bring a major reward.

Kevin Pritchard, the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, hopes it can work out. He sees two complementary players who combine to provide just about everything a big man can contribute in the modern NBA game.

Turner is a 3-point threat who hit 36 percent of his attempts during the regular season and 46 percent in the playoffs. He was easily the team's best shot-blocker, at 1.8 per game, which ranked fifth in the NBA, and showed more interest in mixing it up around the basket as the season progressed.

Sabonis, meanwhile, had no problem at all mixing it up, and had the facial contusions to prove it. He was the Pacers' best rebounder (7.7 in 24.5 minutes per game) and its best post-up player, as well as a solid mid-range shooter with a field goal percentage of 51 percent. He also shows promise as a 3-point shooter, having hit 35 percent of his 37 attempts during the regular season. He gives the impression of being capable of becoming a more accurate shooter with more playing time and a brighter green light. Over his first 30 games as a rookie in Oklahoma City's wide-open offense last season, he hit 44 percent of his 3-point attempts, including three games in which he hit four.

Given what they've done already, and what they seem capable of doing in the future, the thought of combining them tickles the imagination.

"I don't think there's any doubt they can (play together)," Pritchard said. "You never know how they're going to play together, but I have a lot of faith they could be really good."

Pritchard quickly adds a caveat, however.

"They can't be exactly what they are right now," he said.

For the two to be an effective combination, each will have to round out his skill set. Neither is a classic center or power forward, so it seems best for them to become nearly interchangeable. Turner will need to add strength and become more effective around the basket, while Sabonis will need to hone his shooting touch. More than anything, they need to learn to play together and play off one another.

"Players who play with each other a couple of years, they know where they're going to be," Pritchard said. "That makes the game come slower. Domas, the game already comes slow. He can make reads. Myles, he gets a little frantic. And that makes a difference. He's got to calm down a little bit."

Turner and Sabonis played together in 51 games, for a total of 268 minutes, during the regular season. The results, however, weren't as encouraging as one might assume based on their raw talent. The Pacers had a net rating of +1.6 points during the season, meaning they outscored opponents by that margin for every 100 possessions, but when Turner and Sabonis were in the game the Pacers were outscored by 6.2 points per 100 possessions.

The Pacers were, however, a better rebounding team when the two played together, grabbing 52.2 percent of all missed shots — better than the overall team percentage of 49.6 percent. They would address a primary weakness of a team that ranked 22nd in rebounding during the regular season. They also might draw more fouls if they are effective in the low post, a valuable contribution for a team that ranked 27th in free throw attempts. If they help provide 3-point shooting threats and spread the halfcourt offense, all the better. The Pacers ranked ninth in 3-point shooting percentage (.369) but only 26th in 3-point attempts.

If Turner and Sabonis are starting together, who would defend the agile "stretch four" forward who plays primarily on the perimeter, such as Cleveland's Kevin Love or Golden State's Draymond Green? And, what would become of Thaddeus Young, should he return to the team next season? Young was the most consistent Pacers player in both the regular season and playoffs, and was their most valuable player in the postseason based on Win Share.

As Pritchard said during his press conference on Tuesday, addressing one concern sometimes creates another one.

Regardless of the makeup of the starting lineup, logic dictates Sabonis become part of it someday, or at least get more playing time than the 24 1/2 minutes he averaged this season. He had better scoring and rebounding averages than Turner on a per-minute basis — 17.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per 36 minutes, compared to 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds.

Sabonis struggled through the first three playoff games against Cleveland, then scored 19, 22, and 19 points in the next three while hitting 26-of-35 shots. He relapsed in Game 7, hitting 3-of-10 shots on his way to 10 points, but showed the same promise he had showed in the regular season.

"Someday, he's a starter quality," Pritchard said. "You have to figure out how to get him on the floor for 30 minutes; he's just too good."

Figuring how to do that should be interesting. He's responsible for the solution as much as anyone, though. Turner can contribute to the equation, too.

Mark Montieth's book, "Reborn: The Pacers and the Return of Pro Basketball to Indianapolis," covers the formation and early seasons of the franchise. It is available at retail outlets throughout Indiana and online at sources such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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Should Turner and Sabonis Start Together?

The buzzer that ended the Pacers' season in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon closed down another bit of franchise history, one that dates back to the very beginning. Before the beginning, really.

Bill Bevan, the Pacers' official scorekeeper for nearly 49 seasons and a member of the stat crew for all 51 of them, officially retired from his position at that moment after working more than 2,400 games. Had the Pacers won, he would have been back in Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the home games in the second-round series with Toronto, and any rounds that might have followed. Basketball, however, is a fickle game, the outcomes are unpredictable, and one never knows when a career might end.

Bevan, at least, chose his ending. He did so early this past season, when the Pacers were on a road trip and he was with his wife in Florida.

"One morning I was out walking the beach early in the morning and I thought, I could do this more often. I talked to myself for two weeks and then my wife and I talked about it.

This isn't headline news for fans, but for the people who frequent The Fieldhouse on game nights, it's the loss of an institution. Bevan was the smiling guy working the hallways between the home and visiting locker rooms and the officials' dressing room.

Aside from keeping the scorebook for each Pacers home game, his job required him to visit with the home team's coach to get a starting lineup and active roster and check with the trainer for an injury update, go to the visiting coach and trainer to exchange information, and take that back to the home coach so that everyone knows who's playing and starting an hour before the game. He also communicated with referees before each game.

"It's the best job going, because you're in both locker rooms," he said. "I get it from three different angles. I'll really miss the games when it starts up again.

"The players I've met, the coaches I've met, I consider them all friends."

Bevan is in the back row, second from left. First on the left is Bob Bernath, who joined the stat crew for the Pacers' second season and is still on it to this day. (Photo Credit: Mark Montieth)

Bevan became a member of the Pacers' stat crew in 1967. Bill Marvel had been hired as the public relations director and was charged with putting together a stat crew. Marvel's dad and Bevan's dad worked together at the telephone company. Bevan had played basketball at Scecina High School, so Marvel knew he was a fan and invited him to an organizational meeting at the team's original office on 38th St.

"There must have been 50 or 60 guys there, and I was the youngest (21)," Bevan said.

The candidates thinned out through subsequent meetings until a group of 10 or so was finalized. Bevan rode to the Pacers' first exhibition game, at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, with Marvel and crew chief Bill York, to keep rebounds, assists, and turnovers. Midway through the Pacers' third season, the original scorekeeper Dick Bussell had to give up the position because of the travel demands of his day job, so Bevan agreed to try it.

"I guess I did try it," he says. "It's been 48 years."

It would be nice for the purposes of this article if Bevan had juicy tales of anger and intrigue to tell. Players and coaches muttering complaints about one another, trainers talking about which players are too soft to play with injuries, officials talking about how they're going to stick it to one of the teams. He has no such stories, though, which is good for the NBA, not to mention his sanity.

Ask him for a story, and the best he can come up with is that Phil Jackson, when he coached Chicago, hemmed and hawed about giving out his starting lineup, as if he wasn't sure — and as if he hadn't been starting the same lineup all season.

Bevan's most proud of the fact he gained the trust of the coaches, players, and trainers, who didn't have to worry about what he might overhear even if the conversation wasn't gossipy.

"I can honestly say I've never had any trouble with players whatsoever," he said. "When a guy first comes into the league and he doesn't know who to trust, he might be hesitant to talk in front of me. I had a player in (the visiting training room) ask the trainer, 'Who is this guy?' And the trainer said, 'Hey, he's OK. He's one of us. He's been around forever.'

Bevan and the other stat crew members worked for free in the beginning but were given as many complimentary tickets as they wanted. He remembers having 100 tickets for a game in the early seasons when the Pacers were eager to have a sellout. He distributed them at work and to friends.

"Anything they could do to get people in the stands," he said. "And they did a great job of it."

Crew members were eventually paid $5 per game, with gradual raises given over the years. Bevan says he doesn't even know what he's paid now; money is simply wired into his checking account every so often. It's not the kind of job a person does for the money, however. The compensation comes from the enjoyment of being an insider at the games and the relationships formed.

That was especially true in the ABA days, when coach Slick Leonard and his wife, Nancy, brought a family atmosphere to the games.

"I tell you what, they ran a great show," Bevan said. "They were great people to work for.

"I remember going to parties at Slick and Nancy's house, for New Year's Eve or whatever. And there was the time (timekeeper) Paul Furimsky had a get-together after a game. Somebody bought a huge cannon-like gun and we shot it off in the backyard. The neighbors called the police. Pretty soon the doorbell rang and a couple of policemen showed up. But the mayor (William Hudnut) was at the party and he went to the door and said, 'Don't worry about it, I've got it under control.

"You had mayors, governors, all kinds of people who were involved with the Indiana Pacers in the early years."

Players, coaches, stat crew members, and their wives also gathered in The Pub at the Fairgrounds Coliseum after games, often with members of the opposing team.

"You could be beating the heck out of each other for 48 minutes, and the next minute you're elbow to elbow telling stories on each other," Bevan says.

Bevan, who still works as a substitute teacher at Scecina, still has relationships with some of the characters from those days. Slick and Nancy Leonard are presences at each home game, of course. York, who retired a couple of years ago, lives in the area. Marvel lives in Kentucky and comes back to Indianapolis occasionally.

But now there's just one active link to the Pacers' birth. Bob Bernath technically is not an original stat crew member, having joined in the second season, but is the next-best thing. He was the public address announcer and scorekeeper for the preliminary games that often were played before Pacers games at the Coliseum in the first season, and qualifies as a quasi-member of the group.