Ian Mahinmi spent four years in Indianapolis after being acquired by the Pacers in July, 2012.
He spent his first three seasons as Roy Hibbert’s backup, and then emerged as the starter once Hibbert was traded away two summers ago. He easily his best season last season. He averaged 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds and helped the Pacers to earn the seventh seed in the east.
And he spent all four years being a great teammate.
After the 2015-16 season, the players voted for a number of awards via the Players Association and Mahinmi was the recipient of the 2016 Teammate of the Year Award while a member of the Pacers.
Check out the Eastern Conference #PlayersVoice Award winners for Best Teammate pic.twitter.com/zOywj3ycXq
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 4, 2016
Mahinmi, who signed a loaded offseason deal with the Washington Wizards worth $64 million over four years, recently received a trophy for this honor. A price tag beyond what the Pacers could pay.
“This one means the world to me!” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Ian Mahinmi receives his “Best Teammate” award from last year with the Pacers.
George Hill adds “teammate of my career.” pic.twitter.com/vYDDZuTJSF
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 11, 2016
And even more telling, his former teammate George Hill added “#TeammateOfMyCareer.” Those two became close while with the Pacers.
[Mahinmi to Indy: ‘You’ll always have a special place in my heart’
It hasn’t been an easy season in his first year in D.C. Mahinmi, 30, has played a grand total of 14 minutes in one game. That’s because he suffered a partially torn medial meniscus in his left knee, which required surgery, during a preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Wizards play in Indy on Monday, Dec. 19.