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Indianapolis • When Al Jefferson first came into the NBA, it was a different league. The same can be said for C.J. Miles.

Both are current Indiana Pacer players who spent extended time with the Utah Jazz. Miles was drafted by Utah out of high school. Jefferson came over in a trade, and was the best player and centerpiece on Utah's last playoff team.

They've both come a long way since their days with the Jazz. Jefferson is no longer playing at a 20-points-per-game level. Instead, he gets his minutes where he can off Indiana's bench. Miles is a starter, but is now a grown man, instead of the kid trying to adapt to NBA life under Jerry Sloan.

"It's a different era," Jefferson said. "When I first came into the league, I was a power forward and every team had two big men. Now I'm a center, and I'm one of the only guys left who plays with his back to the basket. It's crazy."

Miles is now married. He's found a home with the Pacers as a small forward and even occasionally at power forward — when he first entered the NBA as a shooting guard.

He's a key cog with the Pacers, a shooter who offers floor spacing when Paul George and Jeff Teague each try to drive to the basket. Miles said he still cherishes his time with the Jazz, the Deron Williams-led teams that he played on, and his time in the community.

"I've grown up and matured," Miles said. "I was trying to find my way when I was with the Jazz, and I had a lot of ups and downs. But I found my niche in the NBA, I found what I'm good at and I just try and work hard and keep getting better."

Renovation begins

What's big and white and green all over?

Not Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Not next year at least.

The 19,000 or so bright green, plastic seats fans have plopped down into since the Delta Center opened in 1991 are getting the heave-ho. As part of a $110 million renovation set to be competed before next season, thousands of new "fully upholstered, plush back and contour foam seats"— all of them "Jazz navy blue" in color — will be installed in the downtown arena.

"While we will all miss the green seats, these new cushioned Jazz blue chairs will provide our guests an upgraded experience as they attend Jazz games, concerts and other events in the arena," Jazz president Steve Starks said in a news release.

The green plastic seats will be offered "as a keepsake and thank you" to season ticket holders who renew their seats for next season.

"One of our priorities in determining the top-to-bottom improvements has been to make changes that will benefit everyone," said Steve Miller, chairman of the arena renovation committee. "The upgraded seats will be for all our guests to enjoy. We have the best and most loyal fans in the NBA and we want to treat them that way."

LHM officials on Monday also revealed plans for a "super club," with room for 1,700 guests on the second level of the arena behind the lower bowl seats. According to the news release, the club membership will be for season ticket holders in rows A-12 in 10 sections and rows A-2 in four baseline sections of the lower bowl.

He's back

Rodney Hood — who missed three games with a sore knee — made his return against the Pacers. The starting shooting guard scored three points in seven first half minutes. He went 1-of-4 from the field.

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