Unfortunate news broke this week that former Indiana Pacers director of media relations David Benner has died as a result of his battle with cancer. Benner, who was with the team for 28 years before retiring in 2022, had battled cancer for a decade, according to reports.
An Indiana native, he joined the Pacers staff in 1994-95 after following the NBA for eight years. Pacers Sports and Entertainment owner Herb Simon issued a statement about Benner, whom many internally considered synonymous with the organization:
“David embodied the best of our organization. He was immensely talented, experienced and humble, and his passion for our players and the Pacers organization is what endeared him to the coaches and athletes he worked with.
“David significantly impacted countless people here and around the League, and he will be missed. We will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers.”
You can see pictures of his retirement ceremony below.
David Benner’s influence on the Indiana Pacers organization
According to his colleagues and friends, Benner was known for keeping people at arm’s length when it came to his personal life. Despite that, he clearly left a mark on both the Indiana Pacers franchise and those he worked with.
One of the best examples of that is the number of staff members who honored Benner as part of the Indiana Pacers’ tribute to him. After his passing, the organization not only released an official statement from the owner, but also statements from various staff members, including president Rick Fuson.
As Fuson wrote in his heartfelt reaction to Benner’s death, the void his passing left behind is one that would never fully heal in the hearts of those who knew him. “Few people in the history of our organization have become as synonymous with the Pacers franchise as David Benner. That is the case not only because of his decades as a member of our family, but even more so because of his incredible impact on this team and the legacy he has left behind.”
“David was respected throughout the League and throughout the city as a consummate professional, and was a mentor and friend to many in our industry and beyond. Most importantly, to me, he was a wonderfully kind and decent man, a person of incredible integrity who always had the best interests of his players and coaches at the center of everything he did.
Below, you can see Benner reflecting on his career with the Indiana Pacers.