The Indiana Pacers made a splash in the 2022 NBA Draft by selecting Bennedict Mathurin with the sixth overall pick. Mathurin, known for his scoring prowess, steadily developed into a formidable three-level scorer during his tenure with the Pacers.
In a surprising move, Indiana traded Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson to the LA Clippers for center Ivica Zubac and two first-round picks. This trade sent Mathurin to Los Angeles, a team eager to harness his talents.
Mathurin's return to Indiana is set for Friday night as the Clippers face off against the Pacers. The anticipation is high for Mathurin's first game back, and the reception from the fans promises to be emotional.
Reflecting on his time in Indiana, Mathurin shared, “Indiana breathes basketball, I think everybody knows that. The fans loved me, and I love the fans over there.
They mean everything to me. Indiana drafted me.
That's still my second home to this day.”
During his stint with the Pacers, Mathurin averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, with shooting splits of 44 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three. Before the trade, he was on track for a career season, posting 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Mathurin expressed his excitement about the upcoming matchup, saying, “It's going to be a great moment. I'm looking forward to it.
Now, being on the other side, it's no hate, just a lot of love. I get the chance to really play against them in a game that's going to count for real.”
Since joining the Clippers, Mathurin has been putting up career highs with averages of 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals. However, his shooting efficiency has dipped, particularly from three-point range, where he's hitting just 19 percent in 17 games.
Mathurin has also been dealing with toe soreness, causing him to miss four games. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic about his recovery.
“I definitely think it had an impact on my shot,” Mathurin explained. “I've been able to get in the gym and fix it.
It's still not where I want it to be, but it's way better, so that's better than nothing.”
As Mathurin prepares to face his former team, all eyes will be on how he performs and how the Indiana fans welcome back their former star.