The Pacers player who will shock the world with a breakout season in 2025-26

The The Indiana Pacers enter the 2025-26 NBA season facing a major challenge, life without Tyrese Halliburton. The All-Star quarterback’s season-ending injury completely changed the look of the team. However, amid uncertainty, one player stands at the center of the Pacers’ hope: Benedict Maturin. This is the moment for Mathurin to step out of Halliburton’s shadow and emerge as another breakout star, and perhaps the next cornerstone of the Pacers franchise.

The new reality in Indiana

The loss of Tyrese Halliburton, the general and emotional core of the Pacerswould sink most teams. But for Indiana, it opened the door for growth. Head coach Rick Carlisle believes Maturin, now entering his fourth year, has the talent to carry the offense. The staff redesigned the system around him, giving the young guard more touches, freedom and responsibility.

Last season, Benedict Maturin averaged 16.1 points per game, displaying elite scoring instincts. He thrived as a forward and threat in transition, but often played on the ball next to Haliburton. Now that the dynamic has changed, Maturin will be creating the attack, not just finishing it.

In preseason practices, teammates praised his sharper decision-making and growing leadership. The once fiery rookie is evolving into a confident voice, determined to prove that Indiana can still compete without its star playmaker.

Step into the Spotlight

For Benedikt Maturin, this season is personal. He’s always played with a chip on his shoulder, from his days in Arizona to becoming a lottery pick for the Pacers. Critics questioned whether he could evolve beyond becoming a pure scorer. Now he has the perfect opportunity to shut them up.

With Halliburton out, Maturin’s touches will skyrocket. Expect his shooting volume and usage rate to increase as he takes on the primary scoring duties. More importantly, Indiana needs him to pick up teammates, read defenses, facilitate drives and handle double teams. Carlyle challenged him to trust the system and not just his instincts.

Defensively, Mathurin has made visible progress. His physicality and lateral quickness make him capable of guarding multiple positions. The Pacers want him to set the tone on both ends, a two-way leader who defines the team’s energy every night.

Redefining the identity of the Pacers

Haliburton’s absence is forcing the Pacers to make adjustments this NBA season. Without their elite passer, the Pacers embrace a fast-paced, attacking style built on Maturin’s explosiveness and collective defensive strength. The ball will move through quick drives, off-ball screens and transition drives instead of deliberate pick-and-rolls.

That approach directly affects Mathurin’s strengths. Several young players attack the rim with his mix of power and control. He also worked tirelessly on his perimeter shot, improving his consistency from three-point range. If that jump in shooting carries over into the regular season, Mathurin could average 22-24 points per game, making him one of the breakout stars of the Pacers’ upcoming NBA season.

Off the pitch, his confidence remains unwavering. His teammates describe him as fearless, a player who relishes the big moments rather than avoiding them. That mentality could be just what Indiana needs to stay competitive in a loaded Eastern Conference.

The opportunity lives up to expectations

Every great player has a defining moment, a season where potential turns into proof. For Benedict Maturin, this is a season where the fate of the Pacers rests on his shoulders. They will face stronger defenders, more attention and higher expectations than ever before. But those close to the organization believe he is ready.

Carlyle recently said that Maturin has the “thinking of a star.” Now the challenge is to back it up with performance. If he can lead the Pacers to a respectable playoff run without Halliburton, it will not only prove his worth, but herald his arrival as one of the NBA’s next elite guards.

The next big pacer appears

The road ahead will not be easy. The Pacers will miss the leadership and playmaking of Tyrese Halliburton, but in his absence, a new story is being written, one of resilience, growth and the emergence of Benedict Maturin as another cornerstone of the franchise.

He is no longer just an assistant. This season, Mathurin becomes the show. And if his talent continues to grow as expected, he will not only shock the league, but redefine what the future of Indiana basketball looks like.