Freddie Lewis

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Lewis was a fundamentally sound guard who could pass, shoot, and defend equally well. He attended McKeesport Area High School (in Pennsylvania) and Arizona State University before being drafted by the NBA's Cincinnati Royals. Lewis played a prominent role on three American Basketball Association championship teams for the Indiana Pacers, averaging 16.6 points, 4.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds in seven seasons. His 11,660 points rank as sixth most in ABA history while his 2,883 assists rank 4th. Lewis was selected to the ABA All-Time Team on August 23, 1997. He retired after the 1976-77 season and moved to California, then later to Washington, D.C., where he was an inner-city schoolteacher. In 2002, Lewis moved back to Indianapolis and took over as head coach of the ABA 2000 team. Despite his accomplishments, Lewis has not been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame nor had his jersey retired by the Pacers.

In Their Own Story

Sweat dripped from his brow, but his eyes were calm—the same calm that had carried the Pacers through a grueling series against the Los Angeles Stars. With seconds left, he flicked a pass to a teammate, then raised his arms in triumph. The first championship was theirs. Later, in the locker room, he sat quietly, a faint smile on his face, knowing this was just the beginning—and that his number 14 would one day hang in the rafters.

Reader's Guide

Lewis was a 10th-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Royals in 1966, earning a spot as Oscar Robertson's backup. He was selected by San Diego in the 1967 NBA expansion draft but instead signed with the Indiana Pacers of the ABA. In 1972, Lewis scored 23 points, collected 12 rebounds and dished out 6 assists for the Pacers in Game 7 vs. the Utah Stars in the semifinals, hitting two free throws with 24 seconds left for the winning points. He also led a comeback from a 20-point deficit in Game 5 vs. the New York Nets in the Finals, hitting the game-winning free throws with 17 seconds left. Lewis averaged 16.1 points per game, 4 assists and 3.9 rebounds in seven seasons with the Pacers. He was a three-time ABA champion and the 1972 Playoffs MVP. He added three ABA All-Star appearances and the 1975 All-Star Game MVP award. After the Pacers lost to the Utah Stars in the 1974 Western Division Finals, the Pacers traded Lewis, along with Brown and Daniels, to the Memphis Sounds. Lewis was then traded to the Spirits of St. Louis. He averaged a career high 22.6 points per game with the Spirits in 1974–1975, was named MVP of the 1975 ABA All-Star Game, and led the young team into the playoffs. After one more year with the Spirits, Lewis returned to the Pacers (who by this point had joined the NBA), and he retired in 1977 with 12,033 combined NBA/ABA career points.

Did You Know?

• Lewis is the only player to start his career in the NBA, play all 9 full ABA seasons, then sign back with the NBA.
• His 11,660 points rank sixth most in ABA history, and his 2,883 assists rank fourth.
• Lewis scored 2,015 points in eight ABA postseasons, the second most in league history.
• He was selected to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997, receiving 38 votes (13th most).
• Lewis has not had his jersey retired by the Pacers, unlike his three ABA teammates.