In the winter of 1992, the early stages of the Chicago Bulls' dynastic run, then-Indiana Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh pondered how exactly he wanted to overhaul his roster. He remembers the exact moment inspiration struck.
Or, more accurately, the moment it leveled star guard Reggie Miller.
The Pacers were hosting Pat Riley's New York Knicks on Dec. 30, and Indiana was running a set play on offense. Center Rik Smits controlled at the top of the key, while Miller flashed to the elbow before cutting toward the rim in hopes of receiving a backdoor pass from the Pacers big man.