“He does what is expected of him and he does it well. » This is how Tyrese Haliburton talks about Bennedict Mathurinwho is indeed in good form recently with an average of 17.1 points with good percentages (51% shooting success, 44% at 3-pts) for seven matches and Christmas.
He just scored 20 points against the Nets. But more than the numbers, it was the player's actions that pleased Rick Carlisle, satisfied to see him evolve in a more rhythmic style, made of runs, movements and open shots.
“The basketball he is playing at the moment is basketball that allows you to win,” says the Pacers coach. “He learned, he understood certain things. He and I spent time talking about it, looking at the images. If he wants to run and take open shots, and avoid going headlong into a defense trying to get fouls, then that's the right formula for a young player. »
“He’s starting to understand that, as part of our offense, he can get the shots he wants.”
Bennedict Mathurin is not only a back who likes to make contact in the racket, sometimes in a forest of arms, he is also an attacker who likes one-on-one, isolation. While the Pacers prefer to attack more quickly, playing hard in transitions, even if it is less effective this season. The player therefore sometimes seemed out of step with his teammates. This is less and less the case.
“It’s about seeing the options, seeing the openings, what I can do with the ball in my hands, to be a threat,” explains the 6th choice of the 2022 Draft. “I looked at a lot of images and it helped me define the first, second and third options. If two defenders are on me, that means one of my teammates is alone. Lately, I seem to have felt more than seen things. That's a good thing. »
If he has always been a sharp player offensively, Bennedict Mathurin, currently in his third season, has visibly refined his game to become more efficient and better fit the style of his team – or vice versa.
“ It’s maturity, quite simply, in relation to basketball and the league”analyzes Myles Turner. “He's a killer, he has the killer instinct and sometimes that makes him do everything on his own. He's starting to understand that, as part of our offense, he can get the shots he wants. He sees that when he takes good shots, it pays off. »
| Bennedict Mathurin | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | IND | 78 | 29 | 43.4 | 32.3 | 82.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| 2023-24 | IND | 59 | 26 | 44.6 | 37.4 | 82.1 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| 2024-25 | IND | 37 | 33 | 46.6 | 37.2 | 82.9 | 1.2 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 16.7 |
| Total | 174 | 29 | 44.5 | 35.0 | 82.7 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 15.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
