Jarace Walker looks like a bust for the Indiana Pacers, and others outside of the fanbase are beginning to notice.
On a recent episode of the "Slam N Jam Podcast," The Athletic's Alex Speers pinpoints exactly what's wrong with Walker this season and why he's looking like a bust.
"First thing you notice is the three-point volume. He's taken a lot of threes, over five per game. He's not shooting them well, 29%, but the volume's good. I'm generally optimistic that that part of his game will figure itself out. ... Inside the arc, though, man, it is rough. Cleaning the Glass has him at 50% on shots at the rim, but importantly, he takes 29% of his shots in the short mid-range, floater range...In other words, part of the issue is that he is not getting to the rim when he should," Speers said.
Is Jarace Walker really a bust?
Now in his third season in the league, there were high expectations for Walker. He was finally going to have an expanded role with Tyrese Haliburton out and Myles Turner gone, and this was going to be his chance to prove he can contribute in Indiana for the long run.
So far, though, things do not look good for the Houston alum.
In 16 games this season, Walker is averaging 9.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.1 turnovers while shooting 30.7% from the field and 28.2% from beyond the arc. And he's averaging 28.1 minutes and has had nine starts, so a lack of opportunity is not the problem for Walker.
There is a lot to like about the Pennsylvania native in theory. He entered the 2023 NBA Draft as a do-it-all forward who can use his physicality to his advantage on both sides of the ball. However, with the Pacers, it's almost like Walker is forgetting that he is 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds. He plays way smaller than he is, and that's not a good sign.
One of Walker's biggest general concerns is that he looks too scared on the court. He looks lost defensively and will often over-commit, particularly on defense, and leave a man open. Additionally, he folds under pressure, which is why he can't be trusted as a ball-handler or decision-maker yet. The second he gets double-teamed, he throws the ball away somehow, someway.
For Walker to turn things around, he needs to get his confidence back up and be a brute on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately for him, there just isn't a lot for him to be confident about. He's playing poorly and essentially rode the bench for the first two years of his NBA career.
However, despite his struggles, it is still too early to call Walker a bust for sure.
Yes, his play has been mostly bad, and he is leaving a lot to be desired on the court. But it's also important to remember that he is just 22 years old and is playing consistent minutes for the first time in his career. Plus, there is way too much on his plate right now. He has been tasked with having to do too much in the midst of Indiana's injuries, and it's only natural that he needs time to work things out.
Additionally, it's not like Walker hasn't shown flashes before. Even just this season, he had a two-game stretch against the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks, when he averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals (and just 1 turnover) while shooting 50% from deep.
There is still potential in Walker, and at the very least, he needs the rest of the season to figure things out and remind everybody why he was the eighth overall pick just two years ago. He may never live up to the hype, but is it time to definitively call him a bust? No. Not even close.