Indiana Pacers standout Bennedict Mathurin made headlines on Friday night at the NBA Rising Stars Game for reasons beyond his unanimous MVP honors.
As the Pacers sophomore faced Detroit Pistons veteran Jaden Ivery in the first matchup, he was heard dishing out a little bit of trash talk to his opponent.
“Even in the Rising Stars, you can’t guard me,” he said. “I said even in Rising Stars game you can’t guard me,” he repeated to make himself clear.
Following his run at the Rising Stars game, Mathurin acknowledged his viral moment and made it clear that he views his one-on-one with Ivey as a rivalry based on where they both drafted.
“He’s a great player, I love playing against him,” said Mathurin. “My challenge is to always bring my best against him. You know he was drafted ahead of me. The thing is, I feel like he brings the best out of me every time we compete against each other. So, there’s no hate. He’s a great guy, he’s a great player, and he’s gonna have a great career. But, every time I’m playing against him, I have that in me.”
Ivey, admittedly, was not surprised by Mathurin’s competitiveness in the game. Following the matchup, Ivey discussed the fact that he enjoys going against the Pacers standout and has their next battle circled on his calendar.
“I love playing against him,” Ivey told reporters on Friday. “He’s so competitive, and I really like that. Every time I step out there, I want to compete. He was competing as well. He’s a great player. He’s very talented, and I look forward to playing him again.
It won’t be long before the two players face off again. After a week-long break, the Pistons’ first game back will be on the road against the Pacers on Thursday, February 22. Ivey will get an opportunity to get Mathurin back.
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