The beginning of the season wasn't too kind for Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard. Due to injuries to just about every point guard on the roster, he was forced into that role, and it didn't go too well.
In his first 22 games of the season (before he missed nearly a month of play due to a calf injury), the Atlanta native averaged 2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 35.4% from the field and 27.3% from deep in 24.9 minutes.
Sheppard has always been a bit inconsistent on offense, particularly as a three-point shooter, but things were really bad to begin the season. So bad, in fact, that there were genuine questions about how much longer he would be in Indiana for.
Fortunately for Sheppard and the Pacers, he has finally turned things around and is proving that he is a real asset and should maybe stick around for the long haul.
Ben Sheppard has been fantastic in recent games
The effort was never a question for Sheppard. He plays hard, and everybody knows he gives it his all every game. But effort and work ethic can only help so much if they don't translate to real contributions on the court. However, it seems like it's finally coming together this season.
Since the turn of the calendar, the Belmont alum has averaged 7.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 47.3% shooting from the field and 40.2% from deep in 19.4 minutes. This includes a stretch of scoring double-digit points in six of the Pacers' last eight games in February.
Are these jaw-dropping numbers? No, but that's not what Sheppard's role is. He is in Indiana to play hard, hit some threes, and defend. And over the past few months, he has done exactly that at a pretty high level.
He is playing some of the most consistent basketball of his NBA career, and the Pacers should be ecstatic about that. Sheppard isn't going to score 40 on any given night, but having someone like him could pay dividends for the Pacers as they look to re-establish themselves as a real title contender next season.
Sheppard is a good fit in Indiana's system, and he knows how to play his role well. The 24-year-old's salary jumps from $2.8 million to $5 million in the offseason before he is set to hit restricted free agency in 2027-28. The Pacers may have some decisions to make, but at this point, there are reasons to believe that Sheppard should stick around for a little while longer.