Jarace Walker's career hasn't gone entirely to plan.
After being drafted eighth overall in 2023, the Houston product was expected to be a connective piece within the Indiana Pacers ecosystem, while Tyrese Halliburton would be the one running the offense, spending less usage than one might expect to organize everything. Walker was expected to be the similar brain for the defense.
To be fair, it was a role he had shown he was capable of in college.
However, that hasn't exactly worked out, and Walker has seen his importance decrease year after year, including after the acquisition of Pascal Siakam. However, the former lottery pick's quotes at media day about his newfound prioritization of rebounding could bring him back into the Pacers' rotation, not as the star he was once expected to be, but as a useful role player, which would extend his career significantly.
"Doing all the little things. Rebounding, running, getting to my spots, taking open shots, limiting turnovers, and just playing the right way," said Walker. It's a focus that has been years in the making, and one that could have great effects on Walker's opportunities for real minutes.
To start the season, Walker profiles as being in the running for the ninth and final rotation spot. Bad news: considering Indiana's roster has eight clear impact players, with newcomer Kelly Oubre Jr. taking the role Walker might've had without him, it will not be a big-minute gig.
The good news is it seems likeliest that that ninth spot will be a fourth forward in the rotation. If Walker can get back to what got him drafted so highly – his connective skills and willingness to do the dirty work – he could very quickly earn more than just that minor role.
That starts with his rebounding.
Board man gets paid
Rebounding is such an overlooked skill set. Points get prioritized, assists get lauded, and yet rebounding is seen as somewhat replaceable.
Anyone can rebound in theory. We've seen guards earn double-digit rebounds, as well as seen teams vacate the paint so that their point guards can get those boards and push in transition.
In that way, rebounding has become so much more than just the statistical category, and it is for exactly that same reason that people fail to quantify good rebounders.
Walker himself does not have a particularly impressive rebound-per-game average (3.7 in his career). Whether that is due to playing time or something else is unclear, but the numbers are not in his favor.
However, it is the easiest skill for him to take a step forward. He started that process last year, bumping up to 5.1 boards per game.
If Walker wants to play, it'll be either alongside Ivica Zubac as a clear backup for Pascal Siakam, or alongside Siakam in a small-ball lineup. Unfortunately, that is already a role Obi Toppin occupies.
If Walker wants to stand out, it will not be as a direct replacement for Toppin, but instead as an alternative – someone who does different things well.
While Toppin is a terror in transition and a shooter, his main issue is his inability to rebound. Walker could capitalize on that and vault himself into the rotation, finding new life as a role player, as Toppin did before him.
The path forward is through regaining his individuality as a supplementary piece, while raising the floor of his value. Rebounding is the pivot point for that mid-career transition.
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