INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was talking to reporters after his group’s first official day of observe in 2024-25 when he was requested a easy query: Did certainly one of your teammates has he stood out to this point throughout minicamp and coaching camp?
With lower than a second to assume, Haliburton responded. “Ben Sheppard had a good time,” he started. “Ben Sheppard seems actually good. I feel he simply seems extra comfy in his personal pores and skin, extra comfy as an NBA participant. I informed him, ‘I do not I do not know what you probably did this summer time, however hold doing it.”
Sheppard, a second-year wing, was a late first-round choose in 2023. He steadily moved up the ranks with Indiana final 12 months, beginning the season as a deep bench participant, most of his time recreation being within the G League. He then turned a depth piece after the Bruce Brown commerce, then moved up the rotation ladder after Buddy Hield was dealt. By the All-Star break, he was taking part in nearly each night time. When teammate Bennedict Mathurin suffered a shoulder damage in March, Sheppard turned a mainstay within the rotation, averaging over 19 minutes per recreation for the rest of the common season.
At the same time as a first-year participant, he was counted on within the playoffs. He performed in all 17 of Indiana’s playoff video games, together with two begins within the Japanese Convention Finals. He made 38% of his three-pointers in that stretch whereas taking practically three per outing, and he hustled on protection. It is uncommon {that a} rookie could be trusted in a playoff rotation, however Sheppard has confirmed he must play.
“He is a really dependable participant. He all the time goes arduous, all the time does his job. [He] takes the best pictures. He most likely misses the pictures he ought to take,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle stated of Sheppard.[He] takes protection as severely as offense. He’s very mature and he’s all the time prepared. »
Final 12 months, Sheppard was so targeted on making the best play and never making errors that he was passing up open pictures. He tried to maintain the ball and himself transferring – a noble trigger. However his teammates needed him to let go. They intimidated him to shoot extra, and it paid off. In his first 28 video games, he made 28.1% of his three-pointers. This determine has elevated to 33.3% in his final 29 outings.
Sheppard desires to construct his recreation off his freshman success. The boldness he exhibits early in coaching camp is tangible, and he is taking part in properly sufficient for his teammates to note. He has additionally grown on the sector and feels extra comfy day-after-day.
“I’d simply say I’ve a greater understanding of issues,” Sheppard says of how he feels throughout sophomore 12 months. “Coming right here final 12 months, there’s numerous recruiting and simply studying the ropes of the NBA recreation. I really feel extra comfy this 12 months.”
Final 12 months, Sheppard averaged 4.4 factors, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per recreation. Pacers internet ranking and defensive ranking have been each higher with Sheppard each on and off the sector. Even with typical per recreation numbers, his influence might be felt by way of his error-free model.
This 12 months, he hopes to enhance on this begin to his profession. Sheppard studied certainly one of his teammates, Aaron Nesmith, to look at a key space he believes he can enhance in: offensive closeouts.
“I watched his tape this summer time, how aggressive he’s on the fences and stuff like that,” Sheppard stated of Nesmith. THE the sport slowed down loads for Nesmith final season. “Everybody assaults late within the recreation within the NBA, that’s how the sport is performed right this moment.”
This research was not restricted to Nesmith. Different Pacers gamers are efficient at getting previous wimpy fences and making performs. It is a massive pattern within the NBA, and Sheppard famous that he checked out what Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton did in these conditions. Nesmith, as a winger who noticed the play decelerate final season, is maybe one of the best comparability for Sheppard as a participant. This in-depth evaluation is extra significant.
The Belmont product is on the rise from a powerful NBA draft mix final summer time. He jumped each side throughout his pre-draft exercise for the Pacers, and he is been dependable ever since. The hope for season two is to have extra success.
“It’s nearly being extra aggressive and making the best play,” Sheppard stated of his progress. “I feel I am a kind of gamers that grows inside our offense and is ready to get folks concerned by making the best play,”
Regardless of all these grades, Sheppard’s place within the rotation is unclear at the moment. He might be backup two, and even backup three. He could also be on the surface wanting in. Capturing and protection are extraordinarily priceless expertise, however to this point, completely different lineup sorts have functioned because the second unit throughout coaching camp. Nonetheless, if Sheppard is an improved participant, he ought to profit from taking part in time.
“I like Shepp,” guard Andrew Nembhard stated of Sheppard on Sunday. “Shepp performed basketball.”
A lot of the eye on Indiana’s future is concentrated on its current lottery picks. Sheppard’s future is simply as intriguing, and he is prepared for his second season with the Pacers.
