The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Pacers' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season as a franchise. It was their first season playing at the Conseco Fieldhouse. During the offseason, the Pacers acquired top draft pick and high school star Jonathan Bender from the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers played around .500 with a 7–7 start to the season, but then won 15 of their next 17 games. The team finished first place in the Central Division with a 56–26 record, highlighted by a franchise-best 25-game winning streak at home, which was worthy of the Eastern Conference first seed in the playoffs, guaranteed home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and an all-time franchise best win-loss record. Jalen Rose, who played the previous three seasons off the Pacers' bench, became a starter replacing Chris Mullin in the lineup at small forward, and led the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game, and was named Most Improved Player of the Year. Reggie Miller finished second on the team in scoring averaging 18.1 points per game, while Rik Smits provided the team with 12.9 points per game, and Austin Croshere played an increased role as the team's sixth man averaging 10.3 points per game off the bench. Miller and Dale Davis were both selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland.