Jarace Walker has greatly turned things around in his third year with the Indiana Pacers and now looks like he could be a legitimate asset moving forward.
Since Christmas, the Houston alum has averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and 41.4% from beyond the arc. He is constantly providing value in every area of the game, and he is finally becoming the player the Pacers were hoping he would be following the 2023 NBA Draft.
But now that his spot in Indiana seems secure, it's all about where Walker can go from here. And at this rate, there are reasons to think that the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old.
Jarace Walker's stock should only go up with the Pacers
Walker has been streaky throughout his entire NBA career so far. For every game where he would score 20 and play fantastic defense, he would have a few where he looked lost on both sides of the ball and looked more like a G League player than anything else. However, his peaks have always been fascinating, and that is no different this season.
On Nov. 24, Walker scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting against the Detroit Pistons. On Jan. 23, he scored a career-high 26 points in a victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. And in back-to-back games against the Washington Wizards just after the All-Star break, he grabbed 14 and 12 rebounds, respectively.
The Pennsylvania native is a ball player, and he's finally proving his worth. But perhaps the most interesting part about all of this is that he's doing it without Tyrese Haliburton, who always elevates the games of those around him. Chances are that we haven't seen the best of Walker just yet.
Jarace Walker will greatly benefit from Tyrese Haliburton's return
Indiana is expected to get its star guard back next season as he recovers from an Achilles injury. And when it does, very few players on the team will benefit more from his return than Walker.
Walker has developed as a shot-creator and as someone who can put the ball on the ground and make something happen. However, once he has Haliburton back on the court to dish the ball out and help him get to his spot, he should only become that much more effective.
But even beyond that, Walker should be able to continue providing value outside of his scoring. He has made strides as a decision-maker and passer while also playing well as a defender, rebounder, and ball-handler.
The third-year pro is finally emerging as a key contributor in Indiana, and fans should be excited to see what the future has in store for him.