Indiana Pacers: 5 players that could be All-Star candidates in 2021

Malcolm Brogdon could have a comeback season in 2021 with Pacers

Malcolm Brogdon did not have the season we wanted him to have. After the Pacers gave up quite a bit to land him in a sign-and-trade this summer, he’s been injured here and there all throughout this season and his shooting numbers have taken a major dip.

Fear not, the Pacers have not ruined his shot completely. Most of the dips in his numbers can be attributed to a more direct and increased role in the Pacers offense.

With the Bucks, Brogdon was ancillary and therefore lowkey. He could weaponize as a player often forgot about on the offensive end and get a lot of great looks as a result.

As a Pacer, he’s had to take far more contested and pull-up jumpers. The level of difficulty on his shot profile has increased and as a result his 50/40/90 numbers have gone way down.

After shooting 42.6 percent beyond the arc last year Brogdon is shooting 31.3 percent beyond the arc this year.

Brogdon has also had to adjust to a shot profile that asks him to shoot far more mid-range shots. He took 3.3 percent of his shots in the mid-range last year and is taking 18.8 percent this season.

Next year, with Oladipo returning, Brogdon will recluse to a more ancillary role yet again. While he’ll still be more targeted than he ever was in Milwaukee, he will also have the advantage of a year in the Pacers system and a year with more attentive defenses under his belt which should afford him the opportunity to get back to his old ways.