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By Anne Erickson
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Jarace Walker has spent a lot of time waiting. The Indiana Pacers drafted him eighth overall in 2023 expecting a versatile forward who could eventually impact the game in a lot of different ways. The problem was finding where exactly he fit. Indiana has been one of the league's more competitive young teams, and minutes aren't always easy to come by when you're trying to earn them.
But Walker got a taste of something important last season.
When injuries hit, he wasn't just filling a few minutes here and there. He was asked to take on more responsibility, make decisions with the ball, and handle tougher assignments. Those stretches gave the Pacers a better look at the player they hoped they were getting on draft night.
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Now comes the part every young player runs into: doing it when nobody is handing you extra opportunities.
Walker has always had the physical tools. He's strong, he's athletic and he has the kind of defensive versatility that coaches tend to love. The question has never really been whether Walker can do something special. It's whether he can do it often enough to force his way into the bigger picture.
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Indiana has a few young players looking for bigger roles. Jalen Slawson got looks during Summer League with a big scoring run, averaging 20.5 points and 7 rebounds. Ben Sheppard continues to develop as a dependable option on the wing.
But Walker is a name to watch. This is the season where the former lottery pick needs to turn bursts into something the Pacers need. He's truly waited a long time for the opening. Now the door is finally there.
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