Jarace Walker had mostly considered a big disappointment for the Indiana Pacers this season. Without Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner (and then Obi Toppin, who suffered a foot injury in the third game of the season and has been sidelined since), Walker had an opportunity to finally prove that he can contribute at the NBA-level.
Unfortunately for the Houston alum, he went through numerous ups and downs but mostly underachieved, which led to him being considered a real trade candidate this season. However, it seems like things are finally looking up for Walker, and he is sending the Pacers a big message that maybe he should stick around for the long haul.
Jarace Walker is sending a huge message to the Pacers
Since the turn of the calendar, Walker has averaged 10 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1 steal in 20.8 minutes across 11 games. Perhaps more importantly, though, he shot 45.3% from the field and 51.2% from deep across that span.
Walker has been incredibly efficient in the month of January, and he also passes the eye test. He looks way more comfortable and decisive on the court (including often driving to the basket and creating his own shot), and he doesn't look as lost as he did at the beginning of the season.
Chances are that the Pennsylvania native will never live up to his pre-draft hype when he went eighth overall in 2023. However, he can still be a very valuable asset in Indiana, and the team is beginning to see that firsthand.
There is a lot to like about Walker. He has good size at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, and he is somewhat of a jack of all trades. Walker can shoot, score, defend, handle the ball, rebound, and guard and play every position. The main problem is that he doesn't do it all at a high level consistently, but that could just be him needing time to iron things out.
As it stands, Walker is probably never going to be a full-time starter in Indiana. He has already proven that he can crumble under pressure when there is too much on his plate. However, if he is coming in and playing 20-25 minutes off the bench, then he can be incredibly effective.
It's easy to forget that Walker is only 22 years old. He's the second-youngest player on the Pacers' roster, only ahead of Johnny Furphy. In many ways, he is still a young prospect. He is slowly finding his role in Indiana and is beginning to make the most of his opportunity. And for a Pacers team that wants to compete for a championship as soon as next year, he could be someone worth keeping around for as long as possible.