3 biggest takeaways from the Pacers’ preseason win over the Knicks

3 biggest takeaways from the Indiana Pacers’ win over the New York Knicks

1. You might want to reconsider your Rookie of the Year bets!

Rookie of the Year forecasts for the upcoming season have largely revolved on the top-five picks from the 2022 NBA Draft, but what was expected to be a four-man race (after Chet Holmgren’s injury) should forcibly carve a fifth dome for a potential monster-in-the-making.

Bennedict Mathurin has inarguably been the best rookie so far in the preseason. In three outings, the sixth overall pick in the latest draft has been averaging a mind-blowing 32.8 points per game on a per-36 minutes scaling. Better yet, he’s doing his while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor.

His three-point shot has been a weakness so far, but he has more than made up for his struggles on that end with his ability to get to the rack and draw fouls. Despite playing just 22.3 minutes per contest, Mathurin has been averaging seven free-throw attempts, draining them at a very good 90.5 percent rate.

Mathurin showcased his all-around, two-way brilliance against the Knicks, and basically played savior in the Pacers’ comeback. At this rate, even calling Mathurin a sleeper for the Rookie of the Year award may be quite the underselling. And if the glitz and glamour is part of the criteria, he is far from lacking at that sect. Just look at this: