The Pacers’ youth holds the keys to success in 2024-25 and beyond

As the Indiana Pacers gear up for the upcoming 2024-25 season, the spotlight falls on their promising young pieces, a couple of whom may represent the future of the franchise. The Pacers boast a roster full of untapped potential, with so many young players eager to prove themselves.

For that reason, Indiana elected to run it back with the same roster that got them to a surprise appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The Pacers are expecting their young core to make significant strides in the upcoming season, with the goal of contending in a star-studded Eastern Conference.

With nearly half of the Pacers’ roster currently 23 years of age or younger, here’s a breakdown of some of Indiana’s young talents and what can be expected of them as a handful look to take on larger roles this season:

Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has swiftly become one of the most important players in Indiana’s pursuit for a title. Throughout the early stages of his career, Mathurin has flashed his ability to take over games with his scoring prowess. As a rookie, Mathurin averaged 16.7 points a game. He finished fourth in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year voting. Last season, Mathurin averaged 14.5 points a night, although his efficiency from the field and from beyond the 3-point arc both noticeably improved.

The Pacers will look to Mathurin to provide consistent and efficient scoring, likely as one of the first players off the bench this season. His aggressive and relentless determination to attack the basket, combined with his improving 3-point shot, makes him a threat to put the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court.

This season, it will be critical for Mathurin to further improve his shot selection and efficiency. More importantly, he must show some semblance of improvement on the defensive side of the floor. If he can round out his game, the Pacers could have a future All-Star on their roster.

Jarace Walker

The No. 8 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jarace Walker followed Mathurin as Indiana’s second selection in the top-10 in as many years. Walker brings a unique combination of size, defensive ability and playmaking to the Pacers’ frontcourt -- however he is more likely to play more as a wing this season in Indiana. 

Walker made appearances in 33 games during his rookie season with the Pacers, showing off his positional versatility on both sides of the floor in his limited action. The University of Houston product possesses the size and athletic ability to guard multiple positions defensively. Walker has the potential to be one of the better on-ball defenders in the association. However, at this stage in his career, Walker is still quite a raw prospect. 

Defensively, Walker gambles too much looking for steals and blocks, and he hasn’t yet unlocked his sky-high potential to be an elite point-of-attack defensive stopper. Offensively, Walker’s playmaking may be his most polished skill right now, although he is prone to turning the ball over.

For the sake of the Pacers future, Walker should see more consistent minutes this season with the Pacers. If his offensive game continues to develop – including his jump shot – and he becomes the versatile defender the Pacers drafted him to be, Walker has could be a game-changing two-way player. At just 21 years old, Walker, outside of Mathurin, is the biggest key to Indiana’s hopes of contending for championships for years to come.

Ben Sheppard

Ben Sheppard was Indiana’s second selection in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. During his time at Belmont, Sheppard was lauded his shooting ability and high basketball IQ, two skills he put on full display while getting meaningful minutes as a rookie. 

Sheppard made 57 appearances for the Pacers a season ago. He also played a fairly sizable role during Indiana’s run in the postseason last year. After managing to get his feet wet early in the season, Sheppard looked like a completely different player down the back stretch of the 2023-24 campaign. His 3-point shot improved, and he seemingly bought into his role more as a 3-and-D wing. 

For an offense as high-powered as Indiana’s, the floor spacing Sheppard is ability to provide, as well as his willingness to keep the ball moving, is imperative for the Pacers’ offensive flow. However, Sheppard is far from just a catch-and-shoot guy. This season, Indiana will likely be looking for Sheppard to make the next step defensively as well.

He was solid on the defensive end of the floor as a rookie, but there’s still plenty of room for Sheppard to grow there – both physically and figuratively. If his efficiency offensively can take a slight uptick, and if he can continue to improve defensively, Sheppard will undoubtedly find himself in the thick of the Pacers’ bench rotation this upcoming season. 

James Wiseman

The offseason addition of big man James Wiseman adds a fascinating wrinkle to the Pacers’ young core. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Wiseman’s career has been marred by injuries and inconsistency. Nevertheless, Indiana has taken a chance on the 7-footer, hoping that a fresh start can unlock the talent that made Wiseman such a coveted prospect coming out of Memphis.

This season, Wiseman will be competing with Isaiah Jackson – another young big man the Pacers could turn to off the bench -- for minutes at the backup center spot. Wiseman has the tools and size. It’s his athleticism, rebounding instincts and his finishing ability around the basket that may round him into a solid contributor off the bench this year for the Pacers.