Tim MacMahon names Indiana Pacers star who Rick Carlisle didn’t fully trust in NBA Finals

Rick Carlisle did not show faith in Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict Mathurin had some big performances in the 2025 Playoffs for the Pacers, including a memorable Game 3 performance where he scored 27 points to help the team to a 116-107 win.

The following game, Mathurin just played 14 minutes and managed to score only eight points.

Even in the series against the New York Knicks, Mathurin’s minutes kept fluctuating between 21 in the first game to 11, 8 and 12 in the following matchups, before getting 25 in Game 5.

Carlisle had revealed that Mathurin was going to play a starting role next season, but with the Pacers shorthanded, ESPN’s MacMahon questioned if the coach even fully had faith in the player.

Speaking on the ‘Hoops Collective’ podcast, MacMahon said: “Rick Carlisle didn’t fully trust him because he had the huge Game 3 when they won.

“He went 9-12  from the floor and scored 27 in 23 minutes and only played 14 minutes in the next game.

“So actions over words, Rick can say he trusts him all he wants, the guy just had a huge game was a massive factor in a Finals win that gave them the series lead and regained homecourt advantage at that point and then in the very next game didn’t play him a whole lot.”

Mathurin has to take the next step

Mathurin has been a valuable player for the Pacers, since they drafted him in 2022.

He likes to score and is also one of the most athletic players in the NBA. While defending is not his strong suit, his physicality and build can help him to develop into becoming a solid two-way option.

His promotion to being a full-time starter is expected to bring more maturity to his game.

Mathurin is a below-par three-point shooter, and he will be hoping to work on that in the offseason.

Aside from that, he also has to be a better decision-maker as the Pacers will be without their star point guard. He is expected to play as a shooting guard, but Mathurin might have to take more responsibility alongside Nembhard.

The Pacers are not expected to take the East by storm next season due to Haliburton’s injury and the departure of their center Myles Turner.

But it will give players like Nembhard and Mathurin a chance to showcase their skills and take responsibility for the franchise until Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury.