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In a surprising turn of events, rookie Braden Smith will be inserted into the starting lineup for the Indiana Pacers on Monday night as they take on the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of a back-to-back set. The announcement came from head coach Rick Carlisle during his pre-game media session, marking Smith's first career NBA start.
Smith, a former Purdue All-American and Westfield High School standout, was selected in the second round and is currently on a two-way contract. He has seen limited action so far, logging 18 minutes across four appearances. Offensively, he has struggled from the field, missing all three of his shot attempts, but has contributed one point from the free-throw line. Known for his playmaking, Smith also has two assists to his name and holds the distinction of being the all-time assists leader in NCAA Division I history.
Carlisle expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity for the young guard. "This is obviously a great opportunity for Braden," Carlisle said. "He will start so he'll have his first career NBA start which is pretty exciting for him I would think."
The Pacers will have just eight players in uniform, with only seven actually available to play. Forward Obi Toppin, who was listed as questionable on the injury report released Monday afternoon, will dress to meet the league's minimum requirement of eight active players, but he will not see any action, according to Carlisle. Forward Larry Nance Jr., who was listed as doubtful due to an illness, will also be sidelined.
Eight other players were ruled out in Monday's initial injury report. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, forward Aaron Nesmith, and guard Andrew Nembhard are all sitting out the second half of the back-to-back for rest or injury management reasons. Carlisle noted that this was the Pacers' second back-to-back in a week, which is why those players are getting the night off rather than the second night of the season's first back-to-back.
Additionally, All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain), center Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), backup point guard T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain), guard Ben Sheppard (torn left meniscus), and forward Johnny Furphy (torn ACL) all remain out with their respective injuries and have missed multiple games.
Of the seven healthy and available players, only four are on standard contracts: guard Quenton Jackson, forwards Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jarace Walker, and center Jay Huff. All three players on two-way contracts—Smith, forward Kobe Brown, and forward Jalen Slawson—must be active for the game.
Carlisle acknowledged the challenging situation, stating, "We're just gonna have to get through this thing the best we can."
Key Analysis
The Pacers' extreme shortage of players presents a unique challenge and a rare opportunity for Braden Smith to showcase his abilities on an NBA stage. With multiple key contributors unavailable, the team will rely heavily on its depth, including two-way contract players who are normally not part of the regular rotation. Smith's starting nod underscores the dire straits the Pacers find themselves in, but it also offers a glimpse into the potential of a player who was a standout in college. How he performs under these circumstances could impact his future role with the team.
Originally reported by yahoo.