With the flashiness of Tyrese Haliburton, the consistency of Pascal Siakam, the aggressive defense of Andrew Nembhard, and the drama of Myles Turner typically making headlines, Aaron Nesmith tends to fly under the radar until he does something spectacular (Knicks fans know what I’m talking about).
Not anymore.
With so many injuries to the Indiana Pacers, Aaron Nesmith is stepping into the role of the No. 2 option on offense and the No. 1 defender with much success.
Aaron Nesmith continues to impress whenever he is one the court
While Nesmith averages 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, he does so much more than fill the stat sheet. He brings energy.
Whether that comes through a clutch three-pointer, a strong defensive play, or taking a charge at the rim, the Vanderbilt alum does the little things night in and night out. Last year's playoffs, especially Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, served as somewhat of a public realization of what Pacers fans knew – Nesmith is incredible and does the little things well.
Even though his three-point percentage is down (currently 32.1 3FG%, according to StatMuse), this seems to be more of an aberration, rust, and a result of harsh playing conditions. Nesmith is stepping up big-time when he is on the court.
Nesmith is of impeccable value to the Pacers
Beyond the court, Nesmith continues to be of impeccable value to the Pacers.
The gaudy numbers of Haliburton’s and Siakam’s contracts obviously dwarf Nesmith’s payout. This comparison, though, minimizes our ability to see how much bang-for-their-buck the Pacers are receiving from their forward.
If Nesmith’s extension numbers started today, his contract would rank 99th in the league in annual value. An average of $20 million per year is a lot, and he deserves it. But it cannot be overlooked that this is an extension, and not his current contract. This season (and next), he will be playing out his previous extension, where he makes $11 million per year. This annual value ranks 162nd in the league. And guess what? He will make that same amount next season, too.
Nesmith is not just playing well for the Pacers; he is likely one of the highest value contracts in the entire league. And that’s no exaggeration.