Bennedict Mathurin begins his NBA career with a scoring bang, Indiana Pacers record
Bennedict Mathurin wasted no time introducing himself to the NBA.
The former Arizona star has come off the bench for the Indiana Pacers in each of the team’s first three games and has been nearly unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor. He scored 19 points on 47% shooting in his NBA debut, then scored 26 points on 53% shooting in his second game. On Saturday night, Mathurin poured in 27 points on 56% shooting from the field to help the Pacers to their first win of the season.
According to Indiana, the 72 points over his first three games are the most by a Pacer rookie in team history.
Bennedict Mathurin’s 72 points over his first three NBA games are the most ever by a Pacers rookie over their first three games and the most by any NBA rookie since 1995.
(per @Pacers) #BearDown pic.twitter.com/IL4qSaIUb7
— Saturday Out West (@satoutwest) October 23, 2022
Mathurin is also averaging 6.3 rebounds a game and has opened up by shooting 52% from the 3-point line, connecting on 11 of his 21 attempts so far. Mathurin also has a pair of assists in each of his three appearances so far. In the Pacers’ first two losses, he was plus-nine in his minutes on the court as well.
The sixth pick in the most recent NBA Draft took Saturday’s matchup particularly personal. He went head-to-head with the Detroit Pistons and guard Jaden Ivey, a rookie who was drafted one spot ahead of him.
“I know exactly who was drafted before me,” Mathurin said, according to the Pacers’ Wheat Hotchkiss. “It’s nothing personal, but I’m going to make sure every time I step on the court they’re going to know who I am.”
.@BennMathurin first 3 NBA games:
24 ppg
6.3 rpg
52.4% 3FG#BearDown
pic.twitter.com/WHirI0cLXm— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) October 23, 2022