Bennedict Mathurin

Mathurin was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2022 NBA draft. He is the first ever player from Montreal to be selected as a lottery pick. He joined the seventh overall pick, Shaedon Sharpe, as the only Canadians drafted in the first round that year. Mathurin was the Pacers' highest pick the franchise has owned since selecting Rik Smits second overall in the 1988 NBA draft.[16] On July 3, 2022, Mathurin signed his rookie contract with the Pacers.[17] On July 8, he made his NBA Summer League debut, recording 23 points and four rebounds in a 96–84 win over the Charlotte Hornets.[18] Ten days later, Mathurin was named to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team, averaging 19.3 points, 4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.[19]

On October 19, Mathurin made his regular season debut coming off the bench, recording 19 points in a 114–107 loss to the Washington Wizards.[20] He would follow that performance, by scoring 26 points against Jeremy Sochan and the San Antonio Spurs on October 21,[21] and 27 points against Jaden Ivey and the Detroit Pistons on October 22.[22] His 72 points through the first three games of the season was the most by a rookie since Jerry Stackhouse scored 76 to start off the 1995–96 NBA season.[23] On October 26, he became the first Pacer to score 100-plus points through their first five career games.[24] On October 29, Mathurin set a career high with 32 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting, and five rebounds in a 125–116 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[25] On November 9, Mathurin recorded 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, and 6-of-9 shooting from three in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.[26] On December 1, Mathurin was named Eastern Conference Kia Rookie of the Month, averaging 19.2 points, 4 rebounds, on 40.3% three-point shooting.[27]

On January 31, 2023, Mathurin was named a 2023 NBA Rising Star alongside standout rookie teammate Andrew Nembhard.[28] On February 13, after scoring 21 points against the Utah Jazz, Mathurin became the fastest Pacer rookie since Chuck Person in the 1986–87 season to reach 1,000 career points.[29] With the Pacers dropping out of playoff contention, Mathurin became a starter over the last 10 games of his rookie season.[30][31] On March 28, as a starter against the Milwaukee Bucks, Mathurin recorded 29 points and a career-high 9 rebounds, while passing teammate Chris Duarte for most three-pointers made as a rookie in Pacers franchise history.[32][33] At the season's end, he finished fourth in 2023's NBA Rookie of the Year Award voting[34] and earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors.[35]