Bennedict Mathurin is expected to have an uptick in usage after the team declared Tyrese Haliburton out for this season, and head coach Rick Carlisle has high expectations for the Indiana Pacers swingman.
Carlisle previously said that Mathurin has to improve his decision-making. The veteran tactician also wants the budding Indiana Pacers star to take on the tougher defensive assignments to help the team this year.
“I’ve basically said, it’s his job to lose as a starter. With (Andrew) Nembhard bumping over to point and Tyrese being out, he’s expected to be the starting two,” Carlisle said about Mathurin via the Coaches Corner on ESPN.
“He’s going to have to guard some of the better players, and on both ends. Defensively and offensively, he’s going to carry a big load,” he continued.
Indiana Pacers agree to new multiyear extension with key player
ESPN’s Shams Charania recently broke the news that the Indiana Pacers have signed Aaron Nesmith to a two-year, $40.4 million contract extension, which includes a trade kicker.
Nesmith has established himself as a key 3-and-D player for the Indiana Pacers. The 26-year-old guard shot a ridiculous 49.2 percent from three-point land in the 2025 playoffs during the team’s Cinderella run to the NBA Finals.
Especially with Haliburton sidelined, Nesmith will have an uptick in usage. Indiana Pacers fans hope that Nesmith will play more than 45 regular season games this year.
