During a guest appearance on Indiana’s 107.5 The Fan, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that rookie forward Jarace Walker will be unavailable for at least the first two games of the upcoming NBA Finals.
Carlisle emphasized that the team is preparing for a longer period without Walker, depending on the progress of his recovery.
“He’s going to be out for a while,” Carlisle stated during the Monday morning segment.
“I’m not sure how long it’s going to take, but it’s clear he won’t be available for Games 1 and 2. He was still using crutches as of Sunday, so there’s no doubt he’ll be officially listed as out for those two opening games.”
Walker sustained the injury during Game 6 of the Pacers’ Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks on Saturday.
While helping Indiana secure a crucial win, he rolled his right ankle and was soon diagnosed with an ankle sprain, leading to his early exit from the game.
Throughout the regular season and playoffs, Walker has played an inconsistent and fluctuating role within Indiana’s rotation.
Though not considered one of the team’s core contributors, his absence will still pose a challenge, especially in terms of frontcourt depth.
With the Finals approaching, the Pacers may need to lean more heavily on other big men to fill the void left by the injured player.
Jarace Walker To Miss At Least First Two Games Of NBA Finals https://t.co/6fKKN1nbt0
— RealGM (@RealGM) June 2, 2025
