Indiana Pacers rookie guard Benedict Maturin could win the sixth man in 2023. In 31 games off the bench, the Arizona product is averaging 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
He is shooting 41.3% from the field and 35.1% from 3-point range. Maturin totaled 72 points through the first three games of the season, the most since Jerry Stackhouse’s 76 points to begin the 1995-96 season.
Based on two NBA betting sites, the Pacers have the eighth-lowest odds to win the championship in 2023. But Maturin has the fourth-best chance to win a sixth Man of the Year this season. Sportsbooks show better odds for Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Poole.
Benedict Maturin in his rookie year this season:
31 games (0 starts)
28.8 MP
17.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.5 APG
41.3 FG% | 35.1 3P% | 55.9 TS%Potential 6MOY? #NBA | @Pacers pic.twitter.com/yaEEyqzBVt
– Basketball Ref (@bball_ref) December 23, 2022
On October 26, in the Pacers’ 124–109 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Benedict Maturin became the first player in franchise history to score 100-plus points in his first five career games.
For the month of November, after averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 42% shooting from the floor, Maturin was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month on December 1st.
Packers rookie guard Benedict Maturin could win the Sixth Man of the Year honors, joining Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Poole at random.
Also on October 29, in Indiana’s 125-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the guard scored a bench-high 32 points in 34 minutes, an NBA single-game record by a Canadian-born player.
The young star also recorded five boards and two assists, shooting 8-of-16 (50%) from the field and 6-9 (66.7%) from beyond the arc. The Pacers now have their future with Tyrese Halliburton and Maturin.
Of course, Clark Kellogg set the franchise record for 20-point games by a starter with 48. Maturin has 13 so far.
“I just want to be the best version of myself, the best player I can be.” – @BennMathurin
Welcome Montreal native and Indiana Pacers young star Benedict Maturin to the adidas basketball family. #adidasbasketball pic.twitter.com/ycVJDUesid
— Adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) December 15, 2022
Maturin will have to play better if he wants to win Sixth Man of the Year. The rookie forward hasn’t been dominant in his past seven games, with the guard averaging 21 points per game on 45% shooting from the field.
However, while the Pacers guard missed out on winning SMOY, he is a strong candidate to win Rookie of the Year as well. Several sportsbooks list Maturin as the second-best prospect behind only Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero. In 26 starts, Banchero is averaging 21.9 points, 6.9 boards, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per contest.
