Dana Hunsinger Benbow

dana.benbow@indystar.com

When Reggie Miller was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1987, a guy named Mel Daniels befriended him. He took Miller under his wing, showed him the ropes of professional basketball, was there when he needed to talk.

On Wednesday, Miller stepped up to fill Daniels' shoes signing on to replace his mentor as an advisory board member of Indianapolis-based Dropping Dimes Foundation. Daniels died in October.

Dropping Dimes is a non-profit that assists former American Basketball Association players and their families who have fallen on hard financial times.

Miller said he wanted to honor Daniels and the league that helped change basketball but whose players received relatively small salaries and have been largely forgotten.

"Mel Daniels knew how essential it was to help those who came before us, especially when they were in need," said Miller, in a statement. "Our generation has been given opportunities as the result of battles fought by these players and we can never forget their importance. I am honored to help continue Uncle Mel's mission."

Miller, the Pacers' career scoring leader, is the first member of the advisory board to have spent his entire career in the NBA.

One email changed everything: Helping struggling ABA greats

Other members include Bob Costas (a former ABA announcer), Bob and Nancy Leonard, George Gervin, Dan Issel, Louie Dampier, Spencer Haywood, George McGinnis, Bob Netolicky, Mack Calvin, Brian Taylor and Peter Vecsey.

"We're so honored to have Reggie on our advisory board," said Scott Tarter, president and co-founder of the foundation, in a statement. "What a perfect fit to fill the position left by the great Mel Daniels, who was our greatest inspiration here at the Dropping Dimes Foundation."

Miller, a five-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist, will assume what's now called the Mel Daniels Memorial Advisory Board Position.

Since its founding in 2015, Dropping Dimes has helped numerous former ABA players, including a trip in August to an Indianapolis suit shop.

There, Dropping Dimes helped former Pacer Charlie Jordan get fitted for a new suit so he could attend church. The foundation also provided him with a walker, other clothing and ABA memorabilia. Daniels was part of that venture.

"There are some ABA players living under bridges in New Orleans," Daniels said at the time. "They don't have anything."

Being there for Jordan was a no-brainer, said Daniels, who left the Pacers one year before Jordan joined the team.

"They are Pacers. Charlie is a Pacer," he said. "That's all there is to it."

The foundation also helped former Pacers great Roger Brown's family recover his missing Hall of Fame jacket.

Missing Pacers Hall of Fame jacket almost home

In February, Dropping Dimes made its first foray out of the state, traveling to Louisville to help former Kentucky Colonel Ron Thomas.

Follow IndyStar reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow.