Before every tipoff, the Indiana Pacers form a circle and jump in unison around a certain player who grimaces, shouts and waves his arms in an effort to create a motivating frenzy.
But this ritual isn’t led by All-Star center Roy Hibbert. Or budding All-Star Paul George. Or veteran power forward David West. Or any other starter, for that matter.
The man in the middle of it all is 6-foot-9 reserve forward/center Jeff Pendergraph. He never starts, doesn’t always play but is always the pregame rallying point.