Bennedict Mathurin's tremendous sophomore season with the Arizona Wildcats made him one of the top picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Indiana Pacers picked him sixth overall.
The Pacers' upcoming season will be their first one truly rebuilding. Trading away Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon are the signs that Indy is getting young, bad and in a position to land a top pick in the 2023 draft. Mathurin will have a prominent role right away as they rebuild.
The Arizona product has the talent and the competitive fire to thrive as a rookie. He's bold enough to challenge LeBron James before they even set foot on the court, so his rookie season should be very fun. Here are three bold predictions for Bennedict Mathurin's rookie season with the Pacers.
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3 bold predictions for Bennedict Mathurin in his rookie season with Pacers
3. Mathurin becomes the Pacers' sixth man
Mathurin will undoubtedly have a sizable role with the Pacers in his rookie season. The only question is what that role will be. A sixth-man role fits both what he can do and how Indiana's roster is set up.
With Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte, Mathurin would slide into the three spot in the lineup. He would serve fine as a floor spacer but can do more than that. Indiana should get him the chance to be the leading scorer when he is on the court. Thus, the best spot for him, at least initially, will be as the sixth man.
Mathurin could be the team's first substitution and take out Duarte, giving him time to work with Haliburton. Then, T.J. McConnell, a pass-first guard who can match up with the opposition's best guard, can sub Haliburton out and feed Mathurin in the second unit.
Throughout the course of the season, Mathurin will start some games here and there. He may even become a full-time starter. But initially, and perhaps for longer, his role will likely be as the Pacers' offensive spark plug off the bench,
2. Mathurin averages 15.0 points per game
Averaging 15.0 points per game is a bit of a rarity for rookies. Only five did so last year and three did the year prior (Cole Anthony ended his rookie season just 0.1 points short in 2020-21). Mathurin has what it takes to put up a lot of points right away.
Mathurin can score from just about anywhere. The 6-foot-6 wing has the confidence to pull up from deep and slam it on anyone. He can create his own shot, shoot in a variety of ways and get to the line pretty often.
BENNEDICT MATHURIN😤
30 Points
8 Rebounds
4 Assists
1 Nasty Poster Dunk
1 3PT To Force OT@BennMathurin | @ArizonaMBB pic.twitter.com/pni24y4nKR— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 21, 2022
By averaging this many points, or at least coming close, Mathurin will have a very strong case for being on an All-Rookie team. But he can accomplish something else that will make his case even better.
1. Mathurin leads all rookies in 3-pointers made
Assuming the Pacers let Mathurin get to work early and he shoots from deep as often as he did in college, he can lead all rookies in total triples made.
Leading rookies in this category will be very tough with Jabari Smith in the class. Drafted third overall by the Houston Rockets, Smith shot triples nearly just as often as Mathurin (his 3-point attempt rate was only two percent lower) while shooting eight percent better from deep. AJ Griffin and Ochai Agbaji will be gunning for the top spots, too. Still, the Pacers' rookie has a great chance.
Mathurin will most likely get more opportunities than Griffin and Agbaji, who are rostered on playoff teams and may not get as much playing time as him. Smith stands in his way of Maturin's rookie 3-point title. He will either have to play way longer than the Rockets' big man, shoot way more triples or be way more efficient. A combination of the three would work just fine, though the race will definitely be close.
If Mathurin can stay healthy and have a sizable role in the Indiana offense, he can outshoot Smith from deep in his rookie season.
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