This season has been a rough one for him, but it seems like Jarace Walker could finally be turning the corner.
In the Indiana Pacers' 122-117 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, Walker recorded 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting (including 5-for-6 shooting from deep), six rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 27 minutes off the bench. Nobody made more three-point attempts on either side in the game, and he was the leading scorer and rebounder off the bench between both teams.
Walker has had a tough go at it this season. Before Monday, he was averaging 9.7 points on 30.7% shooting from the field and 28.2% shooting from deep, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.1 turnovers in 16 games.
Now in his third year with the team, there were high expectations around the Pennsylvania native as he prepared to take on an expanded role following Myles Turner's departure and Tyrese Haliburton's injury. And these expectations weren't completely out of nowhere. He was the eighth overall draft pick in 2023 and had shown flashes at times with the Pacers before this season.
However, he has had some incredibly bad moments this season (including a 4-for-14 shooting, six-turnover performance against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 9), leading many Pacers to conclude that, not only is he a bust, but he doesn't even deserve to be on an NBA court.
It's too early to definitively say that Walker has turned it around for sure, but Monday's performance certainly wasn't nothing, and he is finally showcasing what he can bring to the table in Indiana.
Jarace Walker's stock is finally rising
There's a reason that many Pacers fans have already counted Walker out. He has rarely lived up to his potential, he still looks lost and scared on defense, his shot isn't consistent, and he isn't using his physicality to his advantage. However, there are still reasons to have faith in the Houston alum and his ability to establish himself as a legitimate contributor in Indiana, and Monday was proof of that.
Walker didn't just have a good shooting night. He looked decisive and aggressive, which is exactly what the Pacers have been needing from him. After the game, Pascal Siakam spoke about Walker's showcase of confidence, which should bode well for his and Indiana's long-term success.
"I thought today, he just looked comfortable... I just thought his process was really good. I told him after the game, I could count the number of dribbles he had. He kept the game simple," Siakam said about Walker.
On paper, there is a lot to like about Walker. He has great size at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, he can play and defend just about every position, he can handle the ball and facilitate, and he can get hot as a shooter (as we all saw against Detroit).
The problem with Walker, though, is that he has rarely put it all together at the same time. Maybe he as a game where he is shooting incredibly well, but he also led the game in turnovers. Or maybe he is finally being aggressive on offense, but he is still leaving guys open or overcommitting defensively.
Walker has the tools to be a great player in the NBA. It's just a matter of finally putting it all together. And now that the Pacers are mostly getting healthy again, he should be on track to do exactly that.
The Pacers were asking for a lot out of Walker earlier this season, and it's not hard to see why. In addition to Haliburton and Turner, the team was without Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell due to injuries. Because of this, the Pacers implemented a "next man up" mentality, and Walker was the next man up in many areas. This may have led to him taking on way more than he could handle.
Walker is still just 22 years old. He is the second-youngest player on the roster, only behind Johnny Furphy. Walker will figure it out. And when he does, he will establish himself as a valuable asset to a Pacers team that is looking to re-enter the title picture sooner rather than later.