After a deep playoff run that saw them one win away from an NBA title, the Indiana Pacers looked like a franchise on the brink of dynasty status. But when Tyrese Haliburton went down with what fans immediately feared was an Achilles injury in Game 7 of the Finals, the Pacers’ championship dreams were abruptly cut short.
The blows kept coming in the offseason, with Myles Turner making a stunning move to join the rival Milwaukee Bucks in free agency. From the outside, it looked like Indiana’s momentum had collapsed overnight. But inside league circles, that’s far from the consensus.
According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, rival executives around the NBA expect Bennedict Mathurin to be the one who steps into the spotlight this upcoming season.
“A few executives also pointed to Bennedict Mathurin as someone they believe will pick up the scoring slack left by those two absences. They’ll be keeping a close eye on him this season to see how he handles a primary scoring role.”
While it doesn’t guarantee Mathurin will fully make the leap, it’s clear the opportunity is right in front of him. The 22-year-old has flashed plenty of potential, and this could be the moment Indiana’s long-term investment pays off.
Bennedict Mathurin Poised for Breakout
Drafted No. 6 overall in 2022, Mathurin has been positioned to thrive under various conditions, and he’s delivered as a scorer more often than not. Over three seasons, he’s averaged 15.9 points per game and 20.2 points per 36 minutes, all while improving his effective field goal percentage each year.
Despite his promise, his role in the 2025 Playoffs was inconsistent. He logged fewer than 20 minutes in over half of his postseason appearances, though he stepped up when it mattered — including a 27-point, 13-rebound outburst in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
That performance was a microcosm of his season: whenever he got extended minutes, he produced. For instance, when Mathurin played at least 30 minutes in a game during 2024-25, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and nearly 2 threes per game on .464/.394/.821 shooting splits.
Now, with Haliburton potentially out for the entire 2025-26 season, the stage is set for Mathurin to take on a leading role. He’s in line to start alongside Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, both of whom are expected to defer to the former Arizona standout offensively.
And while head coach Rick Carlisle may experiment with different lineups, it’s difficult to imagine a version of this Pacers team that doesn’t feature Mathurin in a central scoring role.
