Pacers guard Ben Sheppard signs endorsement deal with a major company

In his rookie year last season, Ben Sheppard played just a small role with the Indiana Pacers. The guard appeared in 57 games but only started one. On the year, he averaged 4.4 points on 39.3% shooting and 1.6 rebounds per game.

Sheppard could be in line for a bigger role next season, but with the emergence of Andrew Nembhard and the return of Bennedict Mathurin, it is tough to imagine he will see a much larger role next season. Regardless, Sheppard is winning off the court in a major way.

According to NBA personality Nick DePaula, Sheppard has signed an endorsement deal with Nike. Though the details of his contract are unknown, DePaula says it is a "multi-year shoe deal."

Sheppard is not the only Pacer to receive a major endorsement deal this offseason. Earlier in the month, Tyrese Haliburton officially became an ambassador for the popular watch brand, Movado.

Following his new deal, a lot of eyes will be on Sheppard as he prepares for his sophomore season.

Ben Sheppard signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike

Sheppard is an interesting name to keep an eye on in Indiana. Despite being a first-round pick just one year ago, it took a while for Sheppard to find his groove with the Pacers. While he still ultimately played a small bench role, he progressively became more utilized as the season went on. This was especially noticeable after he started two games during the Pacers' playoff run.

However, Sheppard still participated in this year's Summer League with the Pacers. The 23-year-old only appeared in two games during the showcase, averaging 7 points on 25% shooting from the floor Sheppard spoke about using his Summer League experience this year "to be more aggressive."

"I don't think it's about points," Sheppard said. "But they definitely want me to be more aggressive. Taking shots that sometimes I'll maybe pass up. I wouldn't say it's jacking a bunch of shots up, but it's always trying to make the right play and be aggressive in my own speed."

In a crowded backcourt, Sheppard is slated to be the primary backup at shooting guard behind Nembhard. The Atlanta native has played well with the Pacers in his time with the team so far, but he has already made it clear there is still a lot of room left for improvement.

Now that he has gotten the attention of a big company like Nike, it will be worth monitoring Sheppard's progress as he aims to become an essential part of the Pacers' future.