Entering his second NBA season, Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker is hoping to bounce back from a rough rookie campaign.
Last season, Walker, despite being the eighth overall draft pick, only appeared in 33 games for the Pacers. In those games, he averaged 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and looked lost on defense. Still, there was never any doubt that Walker had potential, which he showcased during his time in the Summer League.
During the showcase, Walker averaged 18 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block per game. Furthermore, he shot 42.6% from the field and 45.8% from beyond the arc.
He looked promising in the Summer League, but Walker had a mixed preseason. Because of this, it seemed unlikely that Walker would not be a major contributor to begin the season for the Pacers. However, after just one game, it seems that his situation in Indiana is even worse than we thought.
Jarace Walker barely played in Indiana's season opener and has no path to minutes
Last night, the Pacers kicked off their 2024-25 season on the road against the Detroit Pistons. After a 115-109 victory, the Pacers are undefeated to begin the campaign. However, Walker did very little to contribute to the team's victory.
Against the Pistons, Walker played just six minutes and recorded three points on 1-for-2 shooting, one rebound, and one assist. This is despite the fact that James Wiseman was forced to leave the game in the first quarter, opening up another spot in the rotation for the game. However, the Pacers opted to give more time to rookie Enrique Freeman instead.
What makes matters worse for Walker is that there seems to be no legitimate path to playing time at this point. He is stuck in the rotation behind Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin. Additionally, Bennedict Mathurin, who also has something to prove after his return from injury, had a fantastic game against the Pistons, recording 19 points on 5-for-8 shooting off the bench.
It is way too early to make any confident claims, but it is looking like Walker's career in Indiana can be considered a bust. On paper, the 21-year-old has a lot of tools that can help the Pacers out. He is a physical and big forward who has shown flashes at every level of the game. However, until he polishes and develops his game, Walker will likely continue to be an end-of-the-bench player for the Pacers.