Sad news: The head coach of Indiana Pacers sheld tears as two of his best player’s has made a final decision to terminate their contract
The Indiana Pacers announced on Saturday that guard Bennedict Mathurin will require season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
This season, the 21-year-old was averaging 14.5 points per game while coming off the bench. Tuesday’s 137-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks saw Mathurin suffer the injury while scoring 19 points in just 25 minutes.
Prior to the diagnosis, it was anticipated that he would miss three or four games. Head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters on Thursday that there was hope the injury would be temporary. Carlisle said Mathurin wasn’t aware of the severity right away, possibly because of the adrenaline from the game.
Next week, surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache will operate in Los Angeles.
Although the 2024 Rising Stars MVP will be missed as the Pacers struggle to qualify for the playoffs this year, he should fully recover in time for next season.
Soon after being selected by Indiana with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft, Mathurin established himself as a potent sixth man. He finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting and became the third-fastest rookie in Pacers history to reach 1,000 career points. He even garnered two votes for Sixth Man of the Year, placing him in third place.
Without Mathurin, guard Jarace Walker played more minutes in the Pacers’ 113-111 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Five points, five rebounds, an assist, and a steal were all recorded by the rookie. He was chosen by the Pacers with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and for the balance of the season, it’s probable that he’ll be expected to assume a more steady role.
With eighteen games left in the regular season, Indiana (35–28) is ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers take on the Orlando Magic, a team with a 37-27 record that currently holds the fourth seed, on Sunday. Having defeated the Magic 0-2 this season, a victory could mean the world to the Pacers.
