Wesley Matthews has fit in perfectly with the Indiana Pacers and head coach Nate McMillan says there was a reason the franchise recruited the swingman so hard once Matthews was bought out by the New York Knicks.
In seven games with the Pacers, Matthews is averaging 14.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 44.0 percent from beyond the arc and 95.2 percent from the free-throw line. More importantly, the veteran gives Indiana a stout wing defender who can guard positions one through four.
After the Pacers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, McMillan said the guys on the team feed off of the energy and passion Matthews plays with.
“That’s why we recruited him so hard,” McMillan said, via Jim Ayello of Indy Star. “We knew what type of player he was. He’s a competitor, and when he steps out on that floor, he’s all out. He’s giving you everything he has.
“It starts for him, which you don’t see from a lot of players in the NBA, on the defensive end of the floor. He accepts that challenge of guarding the best (wing) player. (Thursday) we had him on (Andrew) Wiggins, and he got switched on some of those bigs, and he battled. Our guys feed off of that.”
The Dallas Mavericks traded Wesley Matthews to the New York Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Matthews played in two games with New York before agreeing on a buyout.
Indiana signed Matthews three days later and it's been a great partnership.
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