INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana Pacers announced on Monday, December 27, the signing of former Green Bay standout Keifer Sykes. Sykes appeared in two preseason games for the Pacers before the start of the 2021-22 season.

"It's a dream come true," Sykes said. "I've played on five continents, went to the G League, played in TBT… I've actually played on eight teams in the last two years. It feels good to finally get [to the NBA], and I want to make it last."
 
Sykes has appeared in 13 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this season, averaging 16.3 points, 8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. Prior to his call-up, he led the NBA G League in assists per game. Sykes is in his seventh professional season, competing in leagues in South Korea, Turkey, Italy, China, and Australia.
 
Sykes, a native of Chicago, played four seasons at Green Bay from 2011-15. In 127 games with the Phoenix, he averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. Sykes sits at the top of the Green Bay men's basketball record books in multiple categories. He finished his Phoenix career second in points (2,096), third in assists (526) and eighth in steals (155).
 
Sykes is the second Phoenix to sign in the NBA this season after Alfonzo McKinnie inked a deal with the Chicago Bulls earlier this month. McKinnie signed 10-day contracts with the Bulls on Dec. 10 and Dec. 20 before signing a multi-year deal on Dec. 26.
 
When asked about playing for Chicago, McKinnie remarked "I'm a West Side kid. I grew up like 10, 15 minutes down the way. House was a Bull's house. Watched the Bulls growing up. So just being able to compete on the highest stage in my hometown, on my favorite side of the city, the West Side, it's been surreal, to be honest. Just putting that jersey on has been everything for me."
 
McKinnie has impressed in three games for his hometown team, posting 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He is shooting 45.0-percent from the floor and 50.0-percent from three. His best performance came against the Rockets on Dec. 20 when he put up 16 points and five rebounds in a 133-118 Bulls win.
 
McKinnie joined the Bulls from the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League, but he also has four seasons of NBA experience. He's played for Toronto, Golden State, Cleveland, and the L.A. Lakers with career averages of 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 165 games.
 
McKinnie played two seasons at Green bay from 2013-15 following two years at Eastern Illinois. In 42 games for the Phoenix, he averaged 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds on 48.9-percent shooting from the floor and 35.1-percent shooting from beyond the arc.
 
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