Jarace Walker Is Turning the Corner - And the Pacers Are Reaping the Rewards
For much of his young NBA career, Jarace Walker’s name floated around in trade chatter. And honestly, it wasn’t hard to understand why.
His first two seasons in Indiana were rocky - flashes of promise were often overshadowed by inconsistency. One night he looked like a future two-way star; the next, he was struggling to stay on the floor.
A six-turnover game against Golden State and a 0-for-10 shooting night versus Phoenix didn’t exactly help his case.
There was a growing sense that maybe it was time for the Pacers to move on. Package him while the intrigue of his potential still held weight, and get back a more consistent contributor for a team trying to take the next step in the East.
But Indiana held firm. They didn’t sell low. And now, that patience is starting to pay off.
Post-Christmas Jarace Is a Different Player
Since Christmas, Walker has looked like a completely different version of himself - confident, efficient, and in control. Over a 24-game stretch, he’s averaging 12.4 points, 4.2 boards, 2.1 assists, and a steal per game.
The shooting splits? Eye-catching: 48.6% from the field and an impressive 46.4% from deep.
That’s not just improvement - that’s transformation.
And since the trade deadline passed, Walker’s taken things up another notch. In two games post-deadline, he’s averaging 18 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
Yes, it’s a small sample, but the trend is hard to ignore. He’s playing with a freedom and decisiveness that wasn’t there earlier in the season.
Take Wednesday night against Brooklyn. With Indiana missing several key players, Walker stepped up and led the way with a game-high 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting in a 115-110 win. That’s not just filling in - that’s leading from the front.
Growth You Can See - and Feel
The numbers are nice, but what really stands out is how much more comfortable Walker looks on the court. He’s reading plays quicker, making decisions with purpose, and using his physical tools more effectively on both ends.
At just 22 years old, there’s still plenty of room for growth - and that’s what makes this recent surge so encouraging. Even if he never fully reaches the lofty expectations that followed him out of Houston, he’s clearly carving out a meaningful role in Indiana’s rotation.
With Bennedict Mathurin no longer on the roster, there’s even more opportunity for Walker to continue expanding his game. And based on what we’ve seen lately, he’s not just ready for the moment - he’s embracing it.
A Swiss Army Knife With an Edge
Walker’s versatility is what made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place. He can shoot it, handle it, rebound, defend multiple positions, and play inside or out. He’s a jack-of-all-trades who’s finally starting to figure out how to bring all those tools together.
And the physicality? That’s becoming a real weapon. He’s not just big - he’s learning how to impose himself, using his frame to create space, absorb contact, and hold his own defensively against a variety of matchups.
If this is who Jarace Walker is becoming - a do-it-all forward with shooting touch, defensive switchability, and a growing sense of control - then the Pacers might’ve just dodged a major bullet by keeping him around.
Indiana’s Gamble Looks Like a Win
Every young player’s development curve is different. Some take off right away.
Others, like Walker, need time - time to adjust, to fail, to figure it out. The Pacers gave him that time, and now they’re starting to see the payoff.
He may not be a finished product yet, but what he’s showing right now is real. The confidence, the production, the versatility - it’s all trending in the right direction.
And if this is just the beginning, Indiana might have something special on their hands after all.