Bennedict Mathurin will have a great opportunity to prove his worth for the Indiana Pacers next season as the team's starting shooting guard. However, he is at his best when he is coming off the bench, which could actually hurt his outlook for next season.
Recently, ESPN's Brian Windhorst spoke about how the Canadian native is a more efficient scorer when he is coming off the bench as opposed to when he is in the starting lineup. According to Windhorst, he believes it is because Mathurin is featured more in the second unit.
"He actually is a more efficient scorer coming off the bench than he is as a starter," Windhorst said. "I think, because when he is in the second unit, they feature him more."
Mathurin has made a name for himself in Indiana as a gifted bench scorer who can step up when the team needs him. This was especially evident last season. However, it remains to be seen exactly what he can do in a more expanded role. There are reasons to believe he will succeed in his new role, but given how much value he brings as a bench scorer, this will still be something to keep an eye on next season.
Next season will be crucial for Bennedict Mathurin's career
Ahead of what is expected to be a big year for Mathurin, a lot of fans are monitoring his contract situation. The Arizona alum is currently eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension, but as it stands, it does not look like he will get it. Instead, the Pacers are going to give him an entire season to prove his worth and make a decision afterwards.
There is a lot to like about Mathurin. He is incredibly talented, and he is still young and has a high ceiling. However, his fit in Indiana's system is questionable, and any concerns about how well he can mesh with the rest of the team long-term are valid.
The 23-year-old is a great scorer and provides a lot of offensive value. However, many have called him "a ball-stopper" because he relies a lot more heavily on iso scoring than the rest of the team does, especially because the Pacers pride themselves on fast-paced ball movement and a lot of improvisation. Additionally, Mathurin does not provide much value beyond his scoring, making his fit with the team even more questionable.
Next season will be a huge opportunity for Mathurin to prove his worth and make it clear that he can help the Pacers compete for a long time. If he can, he will likely earn himself a new contract to stay in Indiana for the foreseeable future. However, if he can't, he will be as good as gone, likely via a trade.
A lot of eyes will be on Mathurin next season as he looks to send a message to the Pacers organization. It remains to be seen exactly how successful he will be in his quest, but either way, he will be one of the most important Pacers to follow throughout the entire season.