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Pacers' Stuckey says he was smeared by someone in Pistons organization

Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports

Signed to a one-year minimum contract this summer, Indiana Pacers combo guard Rodney Stuckey has been one of the league's bang-for-buck all-stars this season, helping the snakebit Pacers stay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture against all odds while shooting career-high percentages from the field (45.5) and long range (39.8). 

Stuckey's happy to be contributing in Indiana, but he's not happy about the way things ended with his former team, the Detroit Pistons, where he's convinced a particular employee spread dirt on him and thus torpedoed his market value.

"A lot of people were questioning my character," Stuckey told Mark Montieth of Pacers.com. "'Oh, he's not a good teammate.' This and that. That and this. I'm a great guy. I'm very humble, I come to work each and every day, do my business.

"It's just unfortunate. I'm not going to say names, but I know who it was. It's just unfortunate for that person to throw me under the bus."

With a dearth of free-agent offers on the table, Stuckey had to swallow his pride and sign for the minimum. Fifty-six games into his tenure in Indiana, he's shown how much more he's worth. He leads the Pacers in total scoring and 3-point shooting, and is second in PER to George Hill, who's played just 25 games. 

It's safe to say Stuckey won't be playing on a minimum contract next season. Less clear is whether that next contract comes from the Pacers. For now, at least, he seems to have every intention of returning.

"I love it here, man," he said. "I'm staying in the city, close to everything. I love it here. My family loves it here. I love the people in this organization. Definitely, I want to come back. That's a no-brainer. Having a guy like Paul George here, of course I want to come play with an All-Star. Who doesn't? Definitely want to be back here."

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