Laying the Foundations for an ABA Dynasty

Literally minutes after Mike Storen was hired as the first GM of the Indiana Pacers, he asked owners John DeVoe and Dick Tinkham for a $500 check. Dumbfounded by this request, the latter asked the new executive what he intended to do with the money. "I'm going to take this and sign our first player. . . . You never heard of him, but his name is Roger Brown." Before the ink had dried on the check, Storen took off for Dayton, Ohio with the objective of tracking down "the Man with a Thousand Moves." Barred from the NBA due to his mere association while still in high school with Jack Molinas, a talented player and notorious game fixer, Brown was working at a General Motors plant in the city. Despite not being in optimal shape, the Brooklyn native had scrimmaged with the Cincinnati Royals and held his own against the team's star - Oscar Robertson. According to Storen, "I had never seen Roger Brown play." However, the Big O had told him that the small forward and Connie Hawkins were the "best players in America not in the NBA." The Pacers' GM eventually located the prospect and, following extensive negotiations, managed to sign him to a contract. Even with all-star contributions from Brown and the fine play of Bob Netolicky and Freddie Lewis, the Pacers finished 38-40 during that inaugural year. During the off-season, though, Indiana managed to pilfer Mel Daniels from the cash-strapped Minnesota Muskies. Following a 2 and 7 start to their 1968-69 campaign, Storen replaced the team's young coach, Larry Staverman, with the fiery Slick Leonard. In so doing, the Pacers were well on their way to becoming the beasts of the ABA. . .

Roger Brown driving past the Utah Star's Willie Wise