Early season obstacles have forced the Indiana Pacers to turn to their end-of-bench players, but what was once seen as an overwhelming negative has had a couple of positives.
2020 No. 14 pick Aaron Nesmith, their best 3-and-D wing, will hopefully be back in by January after suffering a severe ankle sprain at the beginning of the month. Because of how well he plays the role, 2023 No. 26 pick Ben Sheppard was shepherded into the starting lineup in his absence. However, it wasn’t Sheppard whose opportunities increased, but 2022 No. 6 pick Bennedict Mathurin.
Since Nesmith’s injury on Nov. 1, Mathurin has averaged 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 34.3 minutes per game. For reference, he was posting 15.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game in the games leading up to Nov. 1. Part of the reason why Mathurin has seen an uptick in minutes is the energy that he’s played with. While his first nature may always be to score, using that bulldog spirit to impact the game in myriad ways is now second nature to him.
Mathurin isn’t the Pacers’ only perimeter player who has evolved though.
Pacers Faced With Quenton Jackson Contract Question
After straining his left oblique in mid-November, Sheppard is expected to be out for multiple weeks. The 23-year-old has already missed five games, and that number could balloon by the end of the calendar year. Fortunately for Indiana, third-year guard Quenton Jackson was ready to step up.
Emergency Emergence
Because Sheppard was starting in place of Nesmith, Jackson has been with the Pacers’ first unit for four games. In the contest that Sheppard was out with his oblique injury and he didn’t start, the 26-year-old played 19 minutes off the bench. In that stretch, he’s averaged 10.8 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range.
“Quenton Jackson is an example of flying around all over the place. Playing at a ridiculously high level of intensity and unselfishness.”
in his first career NBA start, Quenton Jackson dropped a career-high 24 points (10-12 FG), 3 assists, 2 steals & 2 rebounds 💪 pic.twitter.com/gUBAWkaefC
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 21, 2024
Despite being 6-foot-5, Jackson is more of a combo guard than wing. Nonetheless, he’s capable of scoring at the rim and beyond the arc, whether attacking off-the-dribble of shooting off-ball. Frankly, the intensity and confidence that he’s played with may be even more admirable than his numbers. His quick decision-making should also be applauded, particularly with his 5.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Rick Carlisle here for pre-game. Asked (by @TonyREast) about Quenton Jackson. Calls him a “combative defender” and a rim attacker.
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) November 25, 2024
On top of that, Jackson’s been a worthwhile defender thanks to his quickness and competitiveness. In fact, prior to Indiana’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle called him a “combative defender.”
There’s just one problem.
The Texas A&M product is on a two-way contract and can only play up to 50 games with Indiana. Even if Nesmith and Sheppard were to return early, Jackson has played so well that he’s looking like the type of guy Carlisle should and will want to be available in the playoffs.
“I thought that Quenton Jackson hitting those four threes in the game was the difference in the game,” Carlisle says. Jackson had 12 points and 4 assists and defended well. He was important.
— Tony East (@TonyREast) November 26, 2024
There’s still a lot of basketball left this season. To that point, five games doesn’t make an NBA player. However, investing in Jackson’s x-factor potential by giving him a standard contract should already be in consideration.
Farewell, James Johnson?
After signing 7-foot-2 center Moses Brown to shore up their frontcourt depth, the Pacers don’t have an open roster spot. Consequently, they would have to cut a player to make room for Jackson. Among the most feasible options is 16-year veteran James Johnson, who Indiana brought in for toughness.
At 37 years old, Johnson is far removed from his prime. Though he provides an intangible benefit, he’s not expected to take the court barring an injury. To that point, in the last three seasons, he’s played just 30 games. Unless Indiana believes that they’ll need his edge in the postseason, he’s expendable.
