Things didn't look too well for Jarace Walker to begin the season. But he is finally showing the Indiana Pacers how effective he can be in the right role.
In his last 19 games since returning to a full-time bench role, Walker has averaged 7.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 41.5% from the field and 42% from deep. But in his last 10 games, the Houston alum has turned it up another level, averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 49.2% from the field and 57.6% from beyond the arc.
These numbers aren't jaw-dropping. And considering that Walker was a top-10 draft pick less than three years ago, this might not be ideal. But given how disappointing he was to begin the season, it's encouraging to see him shoot the ball more efficiently, play with more force and aggressiveness, and just be much more valuable on defense.
Walker may never be a full-time starter at the NBA level, and his early-season struggles were proof of that. But the Pennsylvania native can still be a real asset for the Pacers, which is exactly what they're seeing out of him right now.
What changed for Jarace Walker?
Perhaps the biggest reason for Walker turning it around is that he doesn't have as much on his plate anymore.
Walker went from having inconsistent minutes throughout his first two seasons to averaging 27.4 minutes in his first 20 games this season (which also included 11 starts). It wasn't even just about getting more playing time for Walker. It was the fact that he had the ball in his hands way more than he ever had before and was asked to do a lot, largely because of the plethora of injuries the Pacers dealt with earlier in the season.
It was clear that Walker wasn't ready for this type of role. The game still looked too fast for him, he often looked indecisive, and he would constantly make unnecessary mistakes. The pressure seemed to be too much for him to handle, and it showed.
However, the Pacers have mostly gotten healthy over the past month or so, and they are beginning to find their rhythm. Because of this, there isn't as much pressure on Walker to contribute at a high level, which is working out in his favor.
The 22-year-old is a bit of a do-it-all brute who can play every position and provide value in every area on the court. But he can only do it as a complementary player before he gets overexposed.
There is a lot to like about Walker and what he brings to the Pacers. And after a long time, it looks like he may finally be carving out a role and proving that he does belong with the team moving forward.