Former lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin has been in and out of the Pacers‘ starting lineup in his first three NBA seasons, making 85 starts in 209 total outings. With Tyrese Haliburton out for 2025/26 due to a torn Achilles, the expectation heading into this fall is that Mathurin will be Indiana’s full-time starting shooting guard, head coach Rick Carlisle told Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote (YouTube link).
“I’ll break the news right here: I’m projecting him as our starter at two this year,” Carlisle said of Mathurin (Twitter video clip). “I’ve told him this. I was on the phone with him and his agent four days ago and I said, ‘You’re going to be with the starters on day one. It’s your job to lose.'”
After being drafted sixth overall out of Arizona in 2022, Mathurin showed off impressive scoring ability as a rookie, averaging 16.7 points per game and earning Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year votes in ’22/23. The 6’5″ wing missed part of his second year due to a shoulder injury before returning this past season to put up 16.1 PPG with a career-best 45.8% field goal percentage.
Speaking to Cooper, Carlisle raved about Mathurin’s knack for getting to the free throw line and his ability to put the ball in the basket. However, he noted that other aspects of the 23-year-old’s game – including his passing, his quick decision making, and his fit in the Pacers’ system – are still works in progress.
“Our job as coaches is to meld guys like him that aren’t necessarily seamless fits into a style that is effective for the rest of the guys, and bring both forces hopefully closer together as time goes on,” Carlisle said.
Carlisle spoke in March about the Pacers’ ongoing efforts to incorporate Mathurin’s more ball-dominant, one-on-one style within the movement-oriented flow of a Haliburton-led offense. With Haliburton ruled out for all of 2025/26, Mathurin will take on increased responsibilities offensively and may have more freedom to try to score however he can.
It will be interesting to see how Mathurin’s growing importance in Indiana this fall will influence contract talks between his camp and the Pacers. The Canadian swingman will be eligible for a rookie scale extension up until October 20 and it could be a challenge for the two sides to reach an agreement on a long-term deal, given the way Mathurin’s role has fluctuated in the past and the fact that he could be well positioned for a career year in 2025/26.
Mathurin will earn roughly $9.2MM in the final year of his rookie contract. If he and the Pacers don’t work out an extension before the season, he’d be eligible for a qualifying offer of nearly $12.3MM next summer, assuming he meets the starter criteria.
Huh? Another ball-dominant scorer having difficulty in an offense that stresses ball movement. Where have I heard that before.
It does sound familiar, doesn’t it!?
Imagine if that “other” coach had the self-confidence and rapport with young players that Rick Carlisle presents, below. Oh, I forgot ! That “other” coach just announced publicly that he had no interest in that approach.
“Our job as coaches is to meld guys like him that aren’t necessarily seamless fits into a style that is effective for the rest of the guys, and bring both forces hopefully closer together as time goes on,” Carlisle said.
Yeah, but the issue is Mathurin’s court IQ. Pass when he should. Dumb fouls. Forced shots.
@padam I believe that Carlisle is acknowledging Mathurin’s current deficiencies, while at the same time expressing shared responsibility for that young player’s future.
Some coaches prefer to use the media to criticize and deny personal responsibility for young players.
link to hoopsrumors.com
I’m not always right. But I have a good track record. I know talent. I do my work and research checking them out. I speak cause I know I do the work. I stand behind everything I post. I know this game well lol.
Leading to this draft I said Haliburton was best PG in draft for a year. But rumors were Knicks were trading Randle. And Toppin dropped to our laps. Randle went on to be an all star. And the world keeps turning. Trust me I know talent.
Carlisle used to suck, as far as rapport w/ the young guys
So this is a warriors thread now….fantastic, lols.
Aren’t you the guy who thinks I said every Warriors player is an All-Star? No wonder I dismiss what you think. You missed the point. More than one player-coach-team have the same problem at some point. It is not unique. But, everyone wants to only focus on one person. Everyone only looks at the bright shiney object.
The NBA sucks for player development. NFL punters get more time work on their skills than NBA rookies. One year of college doesn’t make them complete ball players. Expecting them to be complete ball players is ridiculous. It takes time. It just isn’t there in the NBA.
Yeah….you do value every warriors player way higher than they are. Can see it in your fanboy posts. Youve also 100% mentioned Kuminga with all star potention. You clearly dismiss what I say alright, lols.
What are you talking about? Player development this and that, blah blah blah. NFL punters, college system let’s them down….what? All that from you guys hijacking a Pacer and Mathurin thread, SMH.
For a guy who dismisses my posts, you sure seem quite involved. Even though completely off topic. Anyways, I like Mathurin and hope he has a big year.
Huh? What Aristotle? Kerr doesn’t want to work with young players? When did he say that? Are they going to get rid of Post, Podz, and Moody now? No more draft picks?
Sounds like I hit a nerve
👀 🍿 the comments. My coach is better than your coach.
This could have makings of a south park episode
Mathurin should be the starting SG. That’s who he is. Still learning and growing as a player. He is a scorer and has the mentality of a scorer. What Carlisle says is true. At 23 yrs old he is still learning. Imo he is a good fit with Haliburton a true PG. plus they make up a big backcourt.
> I know talent…I speak cause I know I do the work. I
> stand behind everything I post. I know this game
> well… Trust me I know talent.
Is this a cry for help? You’re posting this crazy stuff all over this site today. It’s not having the effect you think.