Rick Carlisle Reveals Bennedict Mathurin's Role on the Team For 2025/26

Bennedict Mathurin has been a very solid contributor for the Indiana Pacers in his career thus far, with the former No. 6 overall pick playing a key role in their run to the NBA Finals this past season.

In three seasons thus far, Mathurin has averaged 16 points and 5 assists per game, making 85 starts in 209 total regular season appearances. That is now set to change according to Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle, who has announced that Mathurin will be the team's starting two-guard in 2025/26.

“I’ll break the news right here: I’m projecting him as our starter at two this year. I’ve told him this. I was on the phone with him and his agent four days ago and I said, ‘You’re going to be with the starters on day one. It’s your job to lose.'”

This comes on the back of the injury to Tyrese Haliburton that will likely keep him out for the entire season, with Andrew Nembhard likely to shift to the starting point guard role. At just 23-years of age, this is the perfect opportunity for Mathurin to show just how good he can be, with his career high of 30 minutes per game expected to increase significantly.

Whether or not the Pacers can be as good as we saw last season with Nembhard running the show, only time will tell, but with he, Mathurin and Pascal Siakham leading the starting lineup, this won't be a team to take lightly in the East.