One of the main reasons the Indiana Pacers didn't sign Bennedict Mathurin to a contract extension this past offseason was that they were uncertain about his fit with the team and what his long-term role will be. Recently, Mathurin hasn't helped his case at all.
In his last four games, the Canadian native averaged 10.5 points and shot 31.8% from the field and 17.4% from deep.
It's a small sample size, but it's still part of a bigger problem with Mathurin: he is incredibly streaky. And when he's at a low point, he's really at a low point.
Mathurin was incredible to begin the season. In his first nine games, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 44.9% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc. However, he has not only come back down to earth since, but he's also struggling greatly, and his performance moving forward will be important to keep an eye on. (As if it wasn't already).
Bennedict Mathurin is not playing for the Pacers right now
There might be an explanation to Mathurin's recent struggles.
On Dec. 17, the Arizona alum revealed that his toe injury, which sidelined him for nearly a month, is "still an issue." It's normal for players to play through injuries, but it's clearly still bothering Mathurin, and it may be the main reason for his struggles.
Regardless, Mathurin also has a history of being a streaky scorer anyway. Last season, he had 23 games of scoring 20 or more points. He also had 16 games where he scored fewer than 10. Additionally, he had 26 games where he hit two or more three-point field goals and 19 games where he didn't hit a single three.
Nobody expected Mathurin to become the Pacers' new Reggie Miller, but a lot of pressure is on him this season to contribute and take that next step. And given how hot of a start to the season he had, his latest performances are not inspiring much confidence.
Fortunately for the 23-year-old, being streaky goes both ways. He may not be playing great basketball right now, but soon enough, he should be able to turn it around and catch fire once again. However, by that point, it could be too little, too late as he may have already made his stance with the Pacers crystal clear.
Mathurin's talent is undeniable, and the Pacers saw what he is capable of firsthand earlier this season. But for him to secure a long-term spot with the team, he needs to find that consistency. Hopefully for him, he can snap out of his cold streak sooner rather than later and work it all out by the end of the season.