Jermaine O'Neal lashes out at Pacers for not doing a better job recognizing former players
Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield's new jersey number has former Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal speaking out against his former team.
Hield is switching his number from 24 to 7, the number worn by O'Neal during his eight seasons with the Pacers. According to an Instagram post from O'Neal, no player should be wearing his No. 7, and the Pacers should do a better job recognizing their former players.
"I love Buddy and the work that he puts in," O'Neal said via Instagram. "My statement has nothing to do with him. It is disappointing to watch teams every year recognize and celebrate the players who have been the franchise's very best players on and off the court but yet the Pacers don't.
"It's been confusing and disappointing to say the least!"
The Pacers did not immediately respond when asked for comment by IndyStar.
Hield will be the fourth player to wear No. 7 since O'Neal was traded after the 2007-08 season, joining Al Jefferson, Malcolm Brogdon and George Hill.
There are six numbers currently retired by the Pacers: Bill Russell's No. 6 is retired throughout the entire NBA, George McGinnis' No. 30, Reggie Miller's No. 31, No. 34 for Mel Daniels, No. 35 for Roger Brown and No. 529 for Slick Leonard.
O'Neal played for the Pacers from 2000 to 2008. He was a six-time All-Star with the Pacers, earned Second Team All-NBA honors in 2004 and is a two-time All-NBA third teamer (2002, 2003). He also won NBA Most Improved Player in 2002.
Of the players with their jerseys retired by the Pacers, Miller ranks first in Win Shares (an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player) with 174.4 followed by Russell (163.5), McGinnis (74.6), O'Neal (66.0), Brown (65.2) and Daniels (64.8).
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers: Jermaine O'Neal lashes out after Buddy Hield switches to No. 7
