2008 has certainly been a year to remember for Mike Dunleavy. His offseason was filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Not only did he marry his college sweetheart in June, but he then spent two weeks celebrating on an African safari. While these memorable moments alone would make for a significant year, 2008 was a triumphant year for Dunleavy on the court as well. He bolted into the ranks of the NBA elite with a banner season, becoming a finalist for the NBA Most Improved Player award. In his first full season with the Indiana Pacers, the versatile 6’9″ 230 pounder emphatically emerged as an NBA star. Never satisfied, Dunleavy wants to make this next year even better.
Selected third overall in the 2002 NBA Draft, Dunleavy averaged over 10 points per game in his first five seasons in the league, all with the Golden State Warriors. The former Blue Devil never fully hit his stride in the Bay Area playing in a system and position that didn’t mesh well with his unique skill set. In the middle of the 2006-07 campaign, Dunleavy was traded to Indiana and his emergence as a franchise player began immediately. In a new environment and an offensive system conducive to Mike’s running, passing, and shooting abilities, the athletic forward has flourished.
Dunleavy started all 82 games last season and posted career highs in nearly every offensive statistical category. Not only did he improve his assists per game (up to 3.5/game), but his 19.1 points per game nearly doubled his career average in Golden State. The 2002 All-American scorched the nets, shooting 48% from the field, 42% from behind the three-point line, and 83% from the charity stripe– all NBA career highs. He also pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game and averaged over a steal per contest. A longtime friend and teammate who came to Indiana in the same trade as Mike, Troy Murphy was delighted by his teammate’s breakthrough year. ”He really had a tough go with some of the criticism out there in Golden State that was unwarranted,” said Murphy, “It’s great to see what’s happened to him.”
Instead of struggling to find his place in an offense, Indiana welcomed the 6’9″ playmaker by tailoring their system to his strengths. Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien understands Mike’s all-around ability. “Michael is a basketball player and Michael needs to play basketball,” O’Brien said. ”Playing basketball is moving, passing, handling it, being a playmaker. If the only thing you’re going to do is spot up, he’s never going to have his potential reached. Here, we almost created it because of his skill set because he’s so good at moving.”
Following a season in which Dunleavy scored at least 25 points in a quarter of his games, the 2001 All-Final Team selection appears to have found a perfect fit in his new home in Indiana. But even a record setting year isn’t good enough for the Pacers star. ”If I can get better in my sixth year in the league, I can get better in my seventh,” he reasons. And so amid marriage and an African excursion, the Oregon native pushed to improve himself even more this offseason.
Although he continued to fine tune his shooting and ball handling, the offensive playmaker sought to strengthen his agility and defense too. ”I put a lot of work into my defense,” Dunleavy said. ”The biggest thing I wanted to improve on was my quickness and things like that. Being 6’9″, 6’10″ and having to chase these little guys around, it’s something I have to get better at and improve on.”
So, together with Murphy and new teammate T.J. Ford, Dunleavy spent most of his summer refining his offense and perfecting his defense. His leadership abilities will also be called into action this season. The Pacers overhauled their roster this offseason, giving Dunleavy seven new teammates, including former Duke forward Josh McRoberts. As the team builds chemistry and cohesiveness, Coach Jim O’Brien is looking for Dunleavy to provide leadership on and off the court. Modestly embracing his new role, Dunleavy says, “This is not something to throw around lightly. I don’t think it’s something you anoint somebody or somebody comes out and says they’re a leader.”
As the 2008-2009 season begins, Dunleavy intends to build upon his standout campaign last year. Successful in leading Duke to the 2001 National Championship, Dunleavy has proven he has the ability to carry his young team deep into the playoffs, providing instant offense and playmaking. In doing so, last year’s Most Improved Player candidate could become one of the league’s perennial All-Stars.
