[Saba Sports News] One of the Indiana Pacers’ prominent former players has expressed displeasure with the team. The Pacers recently announced that guard Buddy Hield would be changing his jersey number for the upcoming season, switching from No. 24 to No. 7.
In response to this news, retired Pacers star Jermaine O’Neal, who previously wore the No. 7 jersey for Indiana, reacted strongly after being mentioned in an Instagram comment. O’Neal emphasized his admiration for Buddy Hield and the effort he puts into his game but made it clear that his statement was not about Hield.
He expressed disappointment in the Pacers’ failure to acknowledge and honor their best players, both on and off the court, unlike other teams that regularly celebrate their franchise legends. O’Neal found this situation confusing and disheartening.
Jermaine O’Neal, now 44, played for the Pacers from 2000 to 2008. During his time in Indiana, he earned six All-Star selections, three All-NBA honors, and the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2002. Despite his involvement in the infamous “Malice at the Palace” incident, O’Neal remains one of the most significant Pacers of the 21st century and believes he deserves recognition from the franchise.
Since O’Neal’s departure, several other players, including Al Jefferson (2017), Malcolm Brogdon (2020-22), and George Hill (2023), have also worn the No. 7 jersey for the Pacers. In contrast, the team has only retired the jersey numbers of four players in its history, with Reggie Miller being the most recent honoree in 2006. O’Neal, known for his conduct during his time in Indiana, clearly feels that the Pacers need to improve their alumni relations significantly.