Indiana Pacers: Briefly grading each player’s season so far

Some Indiana Pacers truly exceeded expectations.

T.J. Warren: A

T.J. Warren has had the season we all hoped he would when the Indiana Pacers traded for him this summer for just cash. It was a steal of a trade, so even if Warren didn’t pan out it wouldn’t have been the worst thing.

Warren had a 3-point explosion last season with the Phoenix Suns after spending most of his offensive time in the mid-range. This year, he combined it all together to make for a really balanced and deadly shot profile, one that will continue to create gravity for Warren when he has the ball in his hands.

If he can continue to improve in finding the open looks for his teammates when that happens, he’s going to be an extremely useful part of the offense and a key cog that continues to turn the machine over.

Warren also stepped forward as a defender this year, even helping to put the clamps on volume scorers like Devin Booker at certain points.

There’s nothing to really dislike about Warren’s game this year. An A is appropriate.

Domantas Sabonis: A

Domantas Sabonis is the Indiana Pacers MVP for the season. It’s hard to dispute that because no other player has really come close to his sheer output on both ends and his growth.

Sabonis has truly had a season for the ages.

A first-time All-Star, Sabonis upped his previous high per-game averages from last year (14.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists) to 18.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. His PER is the highest on the team and he has a VORP of 2.9 to go along with his 3.2 BPM.

Any way you slice it, Sabonis has been the team’s best player and his growth this season has been admirable.

He’s accepted a unique role, starting games while coming off the floor early so he can also run with the bench unit and help rack up leads for the Pacers. No matter the situation, forward or center, Sabonis has found ways to craft a great game that allows himself and his teammates to thrive.