Dale Davis Seeks NBA World Championship

June 7, 2000

Clemson, SC–Former Clemson star Dale Davis will begin his pursuit of an NBA World Championship Wednesday, June 7 when his Indiana Pacers face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Championship Series. Davis is the starting power forward for the Pacers and will try to be the second former Clemson in history to win an NBA World Championship. Horace Grant was a member of three NBA World Championship teams with the Chicago Bulls, 1991,92,93.

Overall, 24 former Clemson athletes have been on 35 professional world championship teams. The list dates to 1926 when former Clemson pitcher Flint Rhem was a member of the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The town of St. Louis brought two former Clemson football players Super Bowl Championship rings this year as Tony Horne and Dexter McCleon were both members of the Rams team that defeated the Tennessee Titans in Atlanta. Joe Bostic won three Super Bowl Championship rings with the Washington Redskins in the 1980s. He and Grant are the only former Clemson athletes with three world championship rings.

Davis has been with the Pacers since the 1991-92 season and is the team’s all-time leading rebounder. He averaged 10.0 points and 9.9 rebounds a game this year, an all-star season for the former Tiger who was an honorable mention All-American on Clemson’s 1990 ACC regular season championship team.

In the playoffs, Davis has averaged 8.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The Pacers leading rebounder this year and one of the top rebounders in the NBA playoffs this year, Davis has recorded seven double-doubles in the playoffs and has six games with at least 16 rebounds. His offensive rebound of his own missed free throw in the last seconds of Game five in the series with the Knicks led to a victory four point victory at Indiana.

Game One of the series against the Lakers will begin at 9:00 PM and will be televised nationally by NBC.

Clemson's Professional World ChampionsName               Year(s)      TeamDan Benish         1987         Washington RedskinsJeff Bostic        1982, 87, 91 Washington RedskinsDwight Clark       1981, 84     San Francisco 49ersBennie Cunningham  1977, 78     Pittsburgh SteelersMark Davidson      1987         Minnesota TwinsTerrence Flagler   1988, 89     San Francisco 49ersSteve Fuller       1985         Chicago BearsHorace Grant       1991,92,93   Chicago BullsAndy Headen        1986         New Yor GiantsTony Horne         1999         St. Louis RamsJimmy Key          1992         Toronto Blue Jays                   1996         New York YankeesTerry Kinard       1986         New York GiantsBill Mathis        1969         New York JetsJeff McCall        1983         Oakland RaidersDexter McCleon     1999         St. Louis RamsJohn McMakin       1974         Pittsburgh SteelersWilliam Perry      1985         Chicago BearsTrevor Pryce       1997, 98     Denver BroncosArchie Reese       1981         San Francisco 49ersFlint Rhem         1926, 31     St. Louis CardinalsWayne Simmons      1996         Green Bay PackersJim Stuckey        1981, 84     San Francisco 49ersTim Tuefel         1986         New York MetsCharlie Waters     1971, 77     Dallas Cowboys