Dale Davis (basketball)

1.1. Childhood and Schooling

Davis was born on March 25, 1969, in Toccoa, Georgia, U.S. He attended Stephens County High School in Toccoa, where he began to develop his basketball skills.

1.2. College Career

Davis played college basketball for the Clemson Tigers from 1987 to 1991. During his time at Clemson University, he earned significant accolades, including being named to the First-team All-ACC in 1990 and the Second-team All-ACC in 1991. His jersey number, 34, was later retired by Clemson, a testament to his impact on the program. In 1989, Davis also earned a gold medal as part of the United States national basketball team at the 1989 Summer Universiade in Duisburg, Germany.

2.1. NBA Draft and Indiana Pacers

Davis was selected by the Indiana Pacers as the 13th overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft. He spent the first nine years of his career (1991-2000) with the Pacers, quickly establishing himself as the team's starting power forward. He became the "workhorse" of the Pacers' successful teams in the mid-1990s, consistently averaging double-digits in points and nearly double-digits in rebounds throughout his time with the franchise. The Pacers were an original member of the American Basketball Association for several years before joining the NBA. Davis played a crucial role in supporting players like Rik Smits, effectively covering Smits' defensive weaknesses and contributing significantly to what is often referred to as the Pacers' "golden age." He left the franchise as the team's all-time leading rebounder in their NBA era. Following the 1999-2000 season, in which Davis was named an NBA All-Star and the Pacers reached the 2000 NBA Finals, the organization decided to rebuild with younger players. Consequently, Davis was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal and Joe Kleine; O'Neal soon went on to become the Pacers' franchise player.

2.2. Portland Trail Blazers

Davis spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, from 2000 to 2004. During this period, he maintained consistent performance, averaging approximately 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. He played in 313 games for the Blazers, starting in 235 of them, continuing to provide a strong presence in the paint.

2.3. Later Career and Trades

On July 20, 2004, Davis was traded from the Blazers, along with Dan Dickau, to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Nick Van Exel. He played 36 games for the Warriors, starting in three. On February 24, 2005, Davis was traded again, this time with guard Speedy Claxton, to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Baron Davis. He was released by the Hornets soon after. On March 4, 2005, Davis signed with his original team, the Indiana Pacers, returning for a second stint. He immediately stepped into a starting role due to an injury to Jermaine O'Neal, contributing to a Pacers' road victory against the Blazers with one point, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots. In the 2004-05 regular season, Davis started all 25 games he played for the Pacers, averaging 6.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.32 blocks per game. On August 26, 2005, Davis signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons.

2.4. Retirement

Dale Davis played with the Detroit Pistons for two seasons, from 2005 to 2007. He officially retired from professional basketball after the conclusion of the 2006-2007 NBA season, ending his career at the age of 37.

3.1. Regular Season

3.2. Playoffs

4.1. NBA Accolades

In the 1999-2000 season, Dale Davis was selected as an NBA All-Star, marking a career highlight during his tenure with the Indiana Pacers.

4.2. Collegiate Honors

During his college career at Clemson University, Davis earned recognition as a First-team All-ACC selection in 1990 and a Second-team All-ACC selection in 1991. His impact on the Clemson program was further cemented when his jersey number 34 was retired. Additionally, he earned a gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1989 Summer Universiade.