Melvin Joe Daniels is a retired American professional basketball player. Daniels attended Detroit Pershing High School, which also produced players like Spencer Haywood, Ralph Simpson, Kevin Willis, and Steve Smith. The 6'9" center then played for the University of New Mexico Lobos basketball team from 1964?67. He was the ninth pick of the 1967 National Basketball Association Draft, selected by the Cincinnati Royals, and was also drafted by the Minnesota Muskies of the American Basketball Association. He chose to play in the fledgling ABA, and became one of its all-time greatest players. Daniels was the ABA Rookie of the Year for the 1967?68 season before being traded to the Indiana Pacers, then of the ABA and now in the NBA. Daniels was the ABA Most Valuable Player in both 1969 and 1971 and led the Pacers to three ABA championships. Daniels played in seven ABA All-Star Games, and was named the ABA All-Star Game MVP in the 1971 game. Daniels led the ABA in rebounding average in three different seasons, and is the ABA's all-time leader in total rebounds and career rebounding average. 

July 20th, 1944 in Detroit  /  Died:   Oct 30th, 2015