Jarace Walker’s Emergence Is Giving the Pacers Exactly What They Hoped For
It’s taken some time, but Jarace Walker is starting to look like the player Indiana envisioned when they brought him into the fold. After an inconsistent start to his NBA career, the 22-year-old forward is stringing together the kind of performances that suggest he’s finally turning a corner-and the Pacers are responding by giving him more minutes, more responsibility, and more trust.
Since the calendar flipped to January, Walker has quietly put together a stretch that’s hard to ignore. Over his first 14 games of the new year, he’s averaged 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting an impressive 48.7% from the field and a scorching 51.8% from three.
And he’s doing all that in just 22.3 minutes per game. Those aren’t just solid numbers-they’re efficient, productive, and, more importantly, trending upward.
What’s even more encouraging for Indiana is that Walker isn’t just padding the stat sheet-he’s passing the eye test with flying colors. He’s playing with a level of confidence and decisiveness that simply wasn’t there earlier in the season.
When the ball finds his hands now, he’s not hesitating. Whether it’s spotting up for a three, putting the ball on the floor to attack, or making the extra pass, Walker is making quicker, smarter decisions.
That kind of growth doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it’s critical for a young player trying to carve out a consistent role.
Defensively, the strides are just as noticeable. Walker came into the league with a reputation as a tough, physical defender, but early on, he often looked a step behind-unsure of rotations and occasionally out of sync.
Lately, though, he’s been far more active and assertive on that end. He’s reading plays better, staying in front of his man, and using his body and instincts to disrupt passing lanes.
That defensive energy has helped him average 2.3 steals over his last three starts-a stretch that also happens to include three of his best games of the season.
In those three starts, Walker has taken his game up another notch, averaging 18 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2.3 steals while shooting 58.1% from the field and 53.8% from deep in 27.7 minutes per game. That’s not just a hot streak-it’s a legitimate impact. And it’s happening in real minutes, with real responsibility.
For Indiana, this kind of development couldn’t come at a better time. The Pacers have been hunting for consistent two-way production from their forward spots, and Walker is starting to deliver just that.
More importantly, he’s doing it in a way that suggests sustainability. His shot selection has improved, his defensive awareness is sharper, and his overall feel for the game is catching up to his physical tools.
Now in his second season, Walker’s journey hasn’t exactly been linear. As a rookie, he played sparingly-just 33 games at 10.3 minutes per night-and spent much of that time trying to adjust to the speed and spacing of the NBA. But if the last few weeks are any indication, that adjustment period may be behind him.
What’s especially intriguing about Walker is his versatility. He’s not a specialist-he’s a do-it-all forward who can contribute in just about every facet of the game.
He’s got the size and physicality to bang inside, the shooting touch to space the floor, the handle to create off the dribble, and the defensive instincts to guard multiple positions. No, he’s not elite in any one category just yet-but he’s good at a lot of things.
And for a team like Indiana, that kind of well-rounded skill set is invaluable.
The Pacers don’t need Walker to be a star right now. What they need is exactly what he’s starting to provide: reliable, two-way play from a young, ascending forward who fits their system and plays with confidence. If he keeps trending in this direction, it’s not hard to imagine him locking down a bigger role for the long haul.
For now, Indiana’s doing the right thing-giving Walker the runway to keep growing. And if he continues to sharpen his tools the way he has in January, the Pacers might be looking at a key piece of their future finally coming into focus.