Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Bennedict Mathurin is expected to start at shooting guard to open the 2025–26 NBA season.
During a recent interview with Caitlin Cooper, Carlisle said he personally informed Mathurin and his agent that the third-year wing will be in the starting five on opening night.
“I’ll break the news right here,” Carlisle said. “I’m projecting him as our starter at two this year… It’s your job to lose.”
Mathurin, 23, is coming off a season where he started 49 of 72 games and averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field.
He also played a key role in Indiana’s playoff run, appearing in all 22 postseason games and contributing 11.0 points per game off the bench as the Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the entire 2025–26 season after an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the Finals, the Pacers will rely more heavily on their wing rotation to fill the offensive void.
Carlisle’s decision also reflects the franchise’s confidence in Mathurin’s development trajectory after he posted back-to-back seasons averaging over 14 points per game.
Since being drafted sixth overall in 2022, the Arizona product has shown consistent growth, especially in his off-ball movement and defensive focus, two areas that were points of emphasis during his rookie campaign.
