The Indiana Pacers know how to find the diamonds in the rough, and they may have done it again.
Players like Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin were all either overlooked or castaways in one way or another before Indiana got its hands on them and turned them into legitimate assets. It's too early to put him in this exact conversation, but the Pacers should be very happy with the play of Ethan Thompson, who may be carving out a role with the team.
Ethan Thompson has looked good for the Pacers so far
At the end of November, the Pacers signed guard Ethan Thompson to a two-way contract. While players on two-way contracts typically don't make an immediate impact, that hasn't been the case here.
The 26-year-old has already played four games in Indiana, including one start. Though he logged a combined 10 minutes in his first two games with the team, he has taken on a significantly bigger role since then and has looked incredible.
In his last two games, Thompson averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block in 31 minutes while shooting 60% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc. This is obviously a very small sample size, but he is looking good in a Pacers uniform early on. And given that this season is all about experimentation for the team, he may continue to take on a consistent role.
After Indiana's victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Thompson received high praise from some of his teammates, including star Pascal Siakam (h/t Tony East of Circle City Spin).
"[Thompson] just plays the game the right way," Siakam added. "On defense, he's moving his feet. I was impressed. He's got a lot to learn... But I love that he was just out there without thinking too much."
There is a lot to like about Thompson. He plays hard and is a pest on defense. He is also a very smart player on both sides of the ball and doesn't force too many unnecessary mistakes. For a player still looking to establish himself as a legitimate NBA contributor, it's huge that he doesn't try to do too much and just focuses on excelling in his specific role.
Given that he is already 26 years old, Thompson's upside is a bit limited. Plus, it's important to remember that Nesmith and Ben Sheppard are both on the shelf. Once they each come back, the California native is likely going to be a G League mainstay. And this isn't necessarily a problem for him as he was averaging 26.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 45% from the field and 36.8% from deep in eight games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce this season.
But at the very least, he's making the most of his current opportunity and proving he may be more than just a fantastic G League player. And who knows? Maybe he will continue this level of play and force himself into Indiana's rotation. Fully healthy or not.