How Can Bennedict Mathurin Help The Pacers This Season?

Benedict Maturin can help the Indiana Pacers make significant progress in the 2021-22 NBA season.

Blue and Gold made the former Arizona Wildcats the sixth comprehensive selection in the 2022 NBA Draft last Thursday.

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Get the pacer nation! @Pacers pic.twitter.com/EiK4WNuwGG

— Benedict Mathurin (@BennMathurin) June 24, 2022

Indy couldn’t pull out the highly coveted Guard Jaden Ivey from the draft pool, but they get a potential game changer in Maturin.

No, he’s not better than LeBron James.

But this newcomer will certainly make some noise at the association.

Check out some of the ways Maturin can help Blue and Gold next season.

Back coat scoring

He is 6 feet 5 tall and weighs 210 pounds. There is no doubt that Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle will play him as a shooting guard.

The most likely scenario is when Maturin comes off the bench to rescue the veteran guard Buddy Hield.

The Pac-12 Player of the Year Maturin, who averaged 17.7 points per game in his sophomore season with Arizona Wildcats, has a powerful offensive weapon.

He can cut into the basket, make a medium range jumper, and eject the three.

He is a confident player who is not afraid of the most intimidating shot blockers.

In that regard, he should average 10 to 15 points in a rookie year at Indy-more than that is a big bonus.

If Malcolm Brogdon, who is rumored to be dealing with John Collins, somehow fails, Maturin will provide the Pacers backcourt with more scoring punches.

The tandems of Benedict Maturin and Tyrese Haliburton should tone the Pacers backcoat for years to come.

If the Pacers want to jump in front of a slower, more athletic team, Carlyle could also start a younger, more athletic Maturin than Hilde.

defense

The rookie isn’t known for his playmaking and pass abilities-as he gains more experience in the NBA, he needs to refine those areas.

But Maturin can protect himself.

In fact, some experts believe he will be a solid two-way player for the Pacers.

This is a good sign for Indiana, the 26th worst defensive unit in the league, who abandoned 114.9 points per game in the 2021-22 NBA campaign.

With Maturin and the healthier Myles Turner on board, that trend will change next season.

Paul George was the Pacers’ best two-way player in recent franchise history.

Can Maturin surpass him in that regard?

It’s an interesting possibility, to say the least.

toughness

We say this – Maturin is a fierce competitor.

His toughness will certainly be rubbed against his teammates while he is a rookie.

Benedict Maturin is ready for LeBron James 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/zVT2JxU8TC

— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) June 24, 2022

Maturin made the headline in the aftermath of the 2022 NBA Draft when he said he was better than LeBron James.

When James and the Lakers play against the Pacers next season, they’ll see exactly what Maturin is made of.

However, there is one thing for sure. He will help Blue and Gold rise from the ashes during the 2021-22 NBA season.