Perhaps one of the greatest what-ifs in the history of the Indiana Pacers — who are eyeing their first NBA Championship this June — Clark Kellogg laid his foundation in the Buckeye State.
Donning the Scarlet and Gray in 1979-82, Kellogg emerged as one of the most sought-after NBA prospects following an outstanding career with Ohio State. Across three seasons with the Buckeyes, Kellogg was a rebounding machine, averaging 14.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while leading the Big Ten in rebounding twice.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 225 pounds, Kellogg’s skill set fit the more physical and post-oriented nature of 1980s NBA basketball. In a draft that was centered around no-doubt No. 1 overall pick James Worthy, who landed with the Los Angeles Lakers with the first selection, and filled with depth with guys like DePaul’s Terry Cummings, Georgia’s Dominique Wilkins and Texas’ LaSalle Thompson, Kellogg was still seen as one of the top options in the class.
Despite enduring a brief slide, Kellogg was selected with the No. 8 overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 1982 NBA Draft. With the selection, he was reunited with one of his former Ohio State teammates, Herb Williams, bringing a level of continuity to the floor in Indianapolis.
“I’m glad to be with Herb, and I think we can work well together,” Kellogg said moments after being drafted. “Maybe we’ll get a chance to start Indiana on a winning track.”
Joining a young and inexperienced squad in Indiana, Kellogg was quickly thrust into a leading role for the Pacers — one he excelled in.
It wasn’t exactly the most shining start for the former Buckeye, as he only mustered four points on 2-of-17 shooting in his NBA debut against the Washington Bullets. But from there, Kellogg quickly acclimated to the NBA level.
Kellogg crossed the 30-point mark six times during his debut season, including an outstanding 36-point, 19-rebound performance against Julius Erving, Moses Malone and the Philadelphia 76ers on April 8, 1983. Kellogg also went toe-to-toe with Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird, dropping 32 points and corralling 16 rebounds in a 130-126 loss to the Celtics on Jan. 18, 1983.
Kellogg also scored 20 or more points in 48 games during his rookie season, while tallying 10 or more rebounds in the same number of contests.
With these gaudy performances, Kellogg posted averages of 20.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, becoming one of just 20 players in NBA history to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds during their rookie season. With those averages, Kellogg elevated his name alongside NBA greats like Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
Despite his phenomenal rookie campaign, Kellogg fell just short of NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Cummings — with the then-San Diego Clippers — earned the award behind a similarly dominant season in which he averaged 23.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
After his rookie season, Converse signed Kellogg to a shoe deal, with his signature sneakers known as “Special K.”
Kellogg maintained a strong level play in each of the next two years, producing 19.1 points and 9.1 rebounds in his sophomore campaign and 18.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game during his third season.
Unfortunately, chronic knee injuries derailed Kellogg’s professional pursuits. Across his last two seasons in the NBA, he played in just 21 games while a notable dip in his production became prevalent. Kellogg retired at just 25-years-old, playing five seasons in the NBA while appearing in 260 games.
While Kellogg’s NBA career came to an unfortunate end, he became a basketball legend following his playing career. In 1989, Kellogg joined ESPN as a basketball analyst, and found his broadcasting home at CBS just four years later.
Since 1993, Kellogg has become a staple of college basketball season, announcing key matchups each season and serving as a leading voice in the CBS Sports studio during March Madness each year.
