Jarace Walker doesn’t need to become a star to matter for the Pacers again. He needs to become useful in a way that travels every night, and his own words at media day point to the simplest lane back in: rebound, run, defend, and stay out of the way when the offense is flowing elsewhere.
Walker, the No. 8 pick in 2023, came into Indiana with a clear idea attached to him. Tyrese Halliburton was going to drive the offense, while Walker was supposed to be a connective piece on the other end, the kind of player who helps everything function without demanding the spotlight. That was the shape of the bet on him coming out of college, where he had already shown he could handle that kind of job.
It hasn’t unfolded that cleanly. His role has shrunk, and the arrival of Pascal Siakam pushed him even farther down the ladder. Still, there’s a path back into the rotation if Walker leans into the parts of the game that don’t always show up in the loudest way.
“Doing all the little things. Rebounding, running, getting to my spots, taking open shots, limiting turnovers, and just playing the right way,” said Walker.
That’s not just a nice offseason line. It’s the blueprint for how he gets minutes in a crowded group.
Indiana has eight obvious impact players, and Kelly Oubre Jr. now occupies the kind of space Walker might have had otherwise. That leaves Walker battling for what looks like the ninth and final rotation spot, which probably means limited run to start the season.
But there is a twist: that ninth spot appears most likely to go to a fourth forward. If Walker can reclaim the connective, dirty-work identity that made him such a high draft pick in the first place, he can force his way into more than a token role.
The easiest place to start is on the glass.
Rebounding may not get the same love as scoring or passing, but it changes possessions and shapes how a team plays. Walker’s career average of 3.7 rebounds per game doesn’t jump off the page, though last season he moved that number up to 5.1. That’s the kind of jump that matters here.
If he’s going to carve out a lane, it won’t come by trying to be Obi Toppin. Toppin already owns the role of the forward who brings transition juice and spacing, even if rebounding isn’t his strength. Walker’s chance is to be the different option - the one who does the other job well enough to earn trust.
That’s the opening in front of him. Not a starring role, not the version of himself people once projected, but something sturdier: a useful piece who can stay on the floor because he does the little things better than the next guy. For Walker, rebounding is where that transition starts.
In Other News...
Pacers Camp Put Jarace Walker's Biggest Opportunity Into Focus
Indianas training camp opened with the usual early-season mix of health updates and role sorting, and for the Pacers, both mattered right away. Larry Nance Jr. is working back from a mild hamstring injury and is limited in practice, while Johnny Furphy is still rehabbing from a torn ACL. At the same time, Tyrese Haliburton sounded comfortable with where he is physically, saying he feels good about his conditioning and the way his workload is being managed as camp gets underway.
For Jarace Walker, the bigger story is less about recovery and more about opportunity. He made it clear he is focusing on the team concept, his role and the wins that come with it as he tries to carve out a steady place in the rotation. With camp offering a fresh reset and the Pacers sorting through available minutes, Walkers chance to turn that focus into something more tangible is front and center. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face A Big Pascal Siakam Question After Their Finals Run
Pascal Siakam arrived in Indiana as the sort of swing the Pacers rarely get to make, signing a four-year, $188 million contract in 2024 and quickly validating the move with an All-Star season. He gave them exactly the kind of two-way presence and scoring punch that can stabilize a roster, averaging 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists while earning his fourth All-Star nod.
Now the bigger question is how far Indiana is willing to go to keep that core together after its Finals run. The Pacers already committed more future value when they traded for Ivica Zubac to pair with Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, and with an extension worth $207 million on the table, the front office has to balance present ambition against the draft capital it has already spent to build around them. [Read more 🡒]
Larry Nance Jr. Sees Something In The Pacers Fans Will Love
Larry Nance Jr. didnt sound like a player easing into a new situation so much as one stepping into a team that already matches his basketball instincts. After joining the Pacers, he pointed to Indianas up-tempo approach and the leagues growing emphasis on depth and conditioning as reasons the fit made sense, saying the team is ahead of the curve. He also praised the style Rick Carlisle has established, which should resonate with a fan base that has grown used to seeing this group try to push the pace.
For Nance, the move also comes with a personal layer after working back from injuries and wanting to return to a high-energy brand of basketball. He said the modern NBA demands a larger rotation to keep up with how fast the game is played, and Indiana seems built around that idea. The part Pacers fans will want to watch now is how quickly he settles back into that rhythm and where he fits in a lineup that already leans into those demands. [Read more 🡒]