Pacers GM: Bennedict Mathurin’s role as a starter or reserve is ‘to be determined’

INDIANAPOLIS -- Before last season, the matter of whether or not talented wing Bennedict Mathurin would be in the Pacers' starting lineup was of organizational importance.

Mathurin spent most of his rookie season as a sixth man, starting just 17 games, but earning first-team All-Rookie honors and scoring the third most points of any Pacers rookie in the franchise's NBA history. He got starts late in his rookie year and heading into last season, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle repeatedly noted the importance of Mathurin earning the right to be a starter and proving he could handle the responsibility of being in the first five.

As it turned out, Mathurin began 2023-24 in the starting lineup at small forward, but was removed from it in mid-November and finished the year with just 19 starts. His season ended early when he tore his labrum in March and he watched from the sidelines as the Pacers made their run to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2014.

As the 2024-25 season begins, the Pacers say they're still pleased with Mathurin's trajectory and applaud his efforts in rehab for injury. However, they return the entire starting five from that playoff run, and they don't believe Mathurin has to break into it to prove his development still make an important impact.

The Pacers have a lot invested in Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 draft and the Pacers highest selection since taking Rik Smits No. 2 overall in 1988. Next year they'll have to begin to decide whether they want to invest more as he'll be extension eligible going into the final year of his four-year rookie scale contract. But at this point, they're not talking about what he'll have to do to secure a huge payday, just what he'll have to do to make a difference.

"He wants to feel like he's contributing," Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said in his news conference Tuesday. "I think he recognizes, 'Hey, we found a group last year that plays well together.' He's got to figure, 'Where do I fit into that group. Is it trying to fit in as a starter? Is it being a primary scorer off the bench? What is that role?' I think a lot of that is determined in training camp. ... His role is to be determined, and it's in his hands."

The starting five the Pacers eventually settled on gave them a strong balance of offense and defense. With All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam and center Myles Turner capable of carrying a lot of the scoring load, the Pacers used the starting shooting guard and small forward spots on their top perimeter defenders -- Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. Nembhard, a point guard by trade, operated as a secondary ball-handler which freed Haliburton up to avoid double teams and get space to shoot. Nesmith, a catch-and-shoot threat on offense, is the team's most versatile defender, capable of handling any position 1-4 and even guarding centers in short spurts.

Mathurin is a more gifted scorer than Nembhard or Nesmith. The 6-6, 210-pounder finished fourth on the team in scoring average with 14.5 points per game behind Haliburton, Siakam and Turner after averaging 16.7 per game as a rookie. He may be the toughest player on the team to contain off the dribble, he's as good as any perimeter player on the team at drawing fouls and he improved as an outside shooter last season, making 37.4% of his 3-pointers last season after hitting just 32.3% as a rookie.

Defense has been a struggle, however, and it hasn't always been easy for Mathurin to find his place inside the Pacers' hyperkinetic offense. He likes to take his time setting up defenders so he can attack them off the bounce in isolation and Haliburton's approach is to keep the ball and the team in constant motion. The Pacers are committed to Haliburton's style of play, which helped them lead the NBA in both scoring and assists in 2023-24 and helped them finish second to the NBA champion Boston Celtics in offensive efficiency.

But Buchanan believes Mathurin's injury could actually help him assimilate better with the rest of his team as he saw what made them successful when he was out and has a better sense of how he might be able to fit.

"Sitting over there watching our team have success without him on the court I think was hard for him but I also think it was good for his development too," Buchanan said. "I think he saw what it takes to play the way we really want to play. What it takes to play and be successful in a playoff setting. He's a very reflective person and he really observes what's going on around him. I think you'll see a different side to him that's really adapting to to the way to we play."

And Buchanan suggested that Mathurin doesn't seem all that bothered by the idea that he might end up coming off the bench, as he would be part of one of the league's best second units. The Pacers led the NBA in bench scoring and bench field goal percentage in 2023-24 in both the regular season and the playoffs. He developed excellent chemistry with backup point guard T.J. McConnell the last two seasons and should be an easy fit with guard Ben Sheppard and forward Obi Toppin on that group.

"I think he understands, 'Hey, we have some depth on this roster,'" Buchanan said. "'There's guys who do some things I can't do and I do some things they can't do. It's up to the coaches to find my best role.' But at the end of the day, winning is the most important thing for Benn."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers GM: Bennedict Mathurin’s role as a starter or reserve is ‘to be determined’