The Indiana Pacers are finally getting healthier, and combined with Rick Carlisle’s reputation of not playing rookies, this means that second-round rookie Taelon Peter will likely not see the court much for the rest of the season.
Peter logged 17 minutes during his debut, which was Indiana’s season-opening double-overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, he has played double-digit minutes three times and has yet to eclipse his opening night minutes total. Additionally, he has appeared in just five games since Nov. 17, logging a total of 17 minutes.
There is a chance he sees the court a little bit more, especially towards the end of the season. But Peter was never meant to have a big role during his rookie season, and moving forward, it’s likely that fans won’t see him for too much longer. At least not until next year.
Taelon Peter will not be able to carve out a role this season
The biggest reason Peter is likely going to ride the bench for the rest of the season is because of who is in front of him.
Peter only played as much as he did on opening night because of all the injuries Indiana dealt with in the backcourt. Tyrese Haliburton is going to be on the shelf for the whole season due to an Achilles injury, and T.J. McConnell, Quenton Jackson, and Kam Jones all missed the game due to injury. Plus, Andrew Nembhard only played 17 minutes in the game before exiting due to a shoulder injury that would sideline him for seven games.
Once the Pacers got healthier, the Liberty alum was always going to take a backseat. And that’s exactly what’s happening now.
Plus, it’s not like Peter has been all that impressive when he played. In 14 games, he is averaging 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1 assist in 7.5 minutes while shooting 24.1% from the field and 22.2% from deep. This is an incredibly small sample size, but it’s still worth noting.
There is a lot to like about Peter. He plays with a lot of heart and energy. Plus, he can run the court at a fast pace, which should bode well for his potential long-term fit in Carlisle’s system. However, he is not likely to see the court too often for the rest of the season. And he will most likely have to wait another year to prove his worth in Indiana.