All eyes are on Indiana’s next season after the draft and Summer League. Now, 3 Pacers players will face the most crucial seasons of their careers. With the Pacers looking to find their way back to the NBA Finals, expectations are higher than ever. Returning a very similar squad from the past two seasons, Indiana expects everyone in its lineup to contribute in its efforts to return to the Finals. But this year, a few Pacers players have more to prove than the rest.<\/p>\n
The Pacers’ 2023 8th overall pick, whom they traded for, faces the biggest season of his career. Indiana had high hopes for Jarace Walker<\/a> after they acquired him in the 2023 draft. To date, Walker has underwhelmed and has not seen the role on Indiana that either he or the team was hoping for. Walker is facing the final year of his rookie contract, which means that this upcoming season is the most important one of his career if he wants to be re-signed.<\/p>\n Walker, in his 3 seasons with the Pacers, has slowly grown and developed. Over his career, Walker averages 8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while connecting on 43.4% of his shots. The Houston product is fresh off the best season of his career, posting career highs in points, rebounds, and assists per game in 2025-26. However, his development has been much slower than Indiana hoped.<\/p>\n Coming out of Houston, Walker was seen as a highly athletic and physical player and a very strong defender. The Pacers hoped they could turn Walker into a solid two-way contributor and potential franchise player alongside Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>. However, Walker has been mainly a rotational player for Indiana the past two years, and while he has provided decent defense, he needs to step up.<\/p>\n Walker has all the skills needed to handle a bigger role. At 6-7 and 235 pounds, Walker is impressively athletic for his size. Walker is quick on his feet, strong enough to absorb contact and fight in the paint, and has the build to rebound and protect the rim. Walker does this well, but he needs to incorporate his strengths better offensively as well. Walker can use his athleticism to create open shots for teammates and be more aggressive in the paint, finishing at the rim to have a bigger impact on offense.<\/p>\n Walker is already sitting behind free agent addition Kelly Oubre Jr.<\/a>, who is a good fit for Indiana<\/a>, and Obi Toppin<\/a> on the Pacers depth chart. The fact that Walker returns to Indiana shows that the front office still believes in him and his future with the team, but he will need to perform. Among the Pacers players facing make-or-break seasons, Walker is arguably the most intriguing to watch.<\/p>\n Like Walker, Ben Sheppard<\/a> was selected by the Pacers in the 2023 draft, at pick 26. Sheppard is entering the last year of his rookie contract as well, and has much to prove in the upcoming season. Among Pacers players, Sheppard has consistently been a reliable guard off the bench, serving as a rotational piece during his time in the NBA.<\/p>\n Now, Sheppard will need to prove that he can have a bigger impact on the team as Indiana continues to bolster its roster and strengthen its depth. Sheppard is a strong defensive player and has been an important role player in the playoffs for Indiana over the past few seasons. The 6-6, 190-pound guard fits well within Indiana’s play style and is a good ecosystem player. He is athletic, versatile, and plays up tempo. Now, he needs to continue to grow within his role.<\/p>\n Indiana is looking for Sheppard to contribute more offensively with the playing time he is given. Over his career, Sheppard averages 5.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 18.6 minutes per game. A career 41.9% shooter, Sheppard has not taken many chances to score, and instead looks to create scoring opportunities for teammates. If Sheppard can prove he can be an efficient scorer, he could easily fit in the Pacers’ plans for the future.<\/p>\nBen Sheppard<\/h3>\n