By Dave Goldstein
Enquirer contributor

TORONTO - The Indiana Pacers' Ron Mercer is averaging career lows in points, rebounds and minutes - and he couldn't be happier.

After putting up big numbers on mediocre teams for the first five seasons of his career, Mercer is now a key reserve on one of the league's best teams. The Pacers finished the first half of the season 34-15, in large part because of a potent bench that also features Jonathan Bender, Al Harrington and Erick Strickland.

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Mercer is averaging 8.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in less than 25 minutes a game. In his time with the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls, Mercer averaged 15.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in more than 34 minutes an outing.

Few players with that type of success would accept a reduced role, but Mercer is different. The former Kentucky Wildcat likes winning and wanted to be in the playoffs.

Mercer hit 50 percent of his shots in his playoff debut last season, but the Pacers were eliminated in the first round. Things look better this season; Indiana is currently second in the Eastern Conference.

"The sky is the limit for this team, and I'm just glad to be a part of it. I'm proud of the season we're having, but there's a long way to go and I'm definitely not satisfied yet," Mercer said.

Wildcat fans will remember the last time the multitalented Mercer spent time on the bench - as a 19-year-old freshman on a loaded Kentucky team that went on to win the 1996 NCAA title. Mercer still made a significant contribution, including scoring a game-high 20 points in the national championship game.

Seven years later, Mercer's on-court performance is overshadowed only by his attitude.

"(Mercer) provides a great scoring threat for us, and defensively he's much better than he's given credit for," Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said.

Mercer was acquired from the Chicago Bulls in a seven-player trade Feb. 19, 2002, and averaged only 4.8 points on a miserable 37 percent shooting in 13 games with the Pacers. It was thought he might never fit on a team if he wasn't the top option.

But Mercer regained his confidence, located the touch on his statuesque jump shot and earned a new label as one of the league's top reserves. So will having Mercer come off the bench bring the Pacers the same success it brought the '96 Wildcats?

"They're very similar situations, because both teams had a lot of talent and it took everybody on the team to win, from the No.1 guy to the 12th or 13th guy," Mercer said.