Copeland stays in the Central Division, signing with Milwaukee.
From the very beginning, Chris Copeland connected with those inside the Pacers organization and the fans.
Especially the fans.
Less than a month after signing with the Pacers (in July, 2013) — his first guaranteed contract in the NBA — Copeland attended Area 55 tryouts and helped Roy Hibbert and others decide who should be in the fan section. Copeland then proceeded to buy a house on Indy’s northeast side with the intention on playing for the Pacers as long as he could.
Despite his less-than-expected playing time, Copeland kept a great attitude — admirable, really — through it all and never lashed out to the media. He was well liked in the locker room and was one others went to for talks about anything — music, current events, life.
At home games inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, fans would routinely shout, “We want Cope!” Very grounded and appreciative, the 31-year-old took as many pictures with fans as he could. And some he would post on Instagram to show his appreciation.
That’s exactly what he did on Wednesday once the Milwaukee Bucks officially announced that he had joined the team. (Copeland and the team agreed to a one-year deal at the end of last week.)
It was a classy move by a thoughtful man … grateful for the past two years, grateful for the Pacers and their fans, before moving on to Milwaukee.
In moving to Milwaukee, also in the Central Division, Copeland is reunited with former New York Knicks teammate Jason Kidd, the Bucks head coach, as well as Heather Denton and Drew Franklin, who were previously in the Pacers player relations department.