Indiana Pacers Draft Bennedict Mathurin With Sixth Overall Selection

The Indiana Pacers selected Arizona wing Bennedict Mathurin with their sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

It was the Pacers highest draft pick since 1988. Mathurin is a strong athlete and quality shooter, which he showcased often at Arizona. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his final season as a Wildcat.

Mathurin did a solo workout for the blue and gold on June 10. He also spoke with Indiana at the draft combine, saying that he “had a moment,” with the franchise.

Now, he steps into a Pacers team that is desperate for wing depth and shooting. Mathurin should be able to fill both of those needs — he canned 38.3% of his 316 outside shots at Arizona while playing in an offensive system that featured many NBA-style sets and actions. He will have no trouble fitting in Indiana’s roster.

“We’re very excited that we were able to select Bennedict with the sixth overall pick in the Draft tonight,” President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement released by the Pacers. “This is a player that we have targeted for quite some time because we believe he has the ability to contribute immediately and become a key part of our foundation moving forward.”

Mathurin has the athleticism to fit the blue and gold well — they want to play fast with lead guard Tyrese Haliburton pushing the pace. Their new high pick should be able to gel with the style head coach Rick Carlisle wants to play, which only adds to his value as the Pacers’ pick.

“He was also talking about my potential and what I could bring to the team,” Mathurin recalled of his conversations with Carlisle during the pre-draft process. “He told me what he thought of me and how I could be a really great player.”

Mathurin’s life has taken him all over the world. He was born in Canada, and French was his first language. As a teenager, he moved to Mexico City to be a part of the NBA Academy, a development program for high school aged prospects from outside the United States. Not long after, he attended the University of Arizona for two seasons, where he improved dramatically as a player from year-to-year.

Now, he heads to Indiana, where he will help advance a Pacers franchise in the early stages of a rebuild. He joins Haliburton, Chris Duarte, and Isaiah Jackson as key parts of the team’s young core.

“It’s really great, having a guy like Tyrese,” Mathurin explained. “[He] is a leader who likes to pass the ball and just lead the team in general. It’s really what I’m looking forward to playing with.”

The 20-year old will help the Pacers on the wing, a position at which Indiana currently lacks depth. The sixth overall pick could play as an off-ball guard as well, and that versatility will suit the blue and gold well.

Indiana wished to grab a foundational piece with their first-round pick, and they are betting Mathurin is that guy. His background and skill set makes him a natural fit with the franchise, and they will hope that they are proven right.