Pacers’ Mathurin to have season-ending surgery

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn right labrum, the team announced on Saturday.

Mathurin’s loss is a significant blow to the bench of the NBA’s top-rated offensive team.

The procedure will be performed by surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles next week, according to the team. Mathurin is expected to make a full recovery for the start of the 2024-2025 season.

Mathurin had been playing increasingly well this season, averaging 19 points on 41.4% shooting from 3-point range in his past five games.

At 21 years old, Mathurin – a 2023 All-Rookie first-team selection — averaged 14.5 points and solidified himself as the leader on one of the league’s best bench units. He was the MVP of the 2024 Rising Stars game on All-Star Weekend.

Mathurin — the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft — averaged 16.7 points in his rookie season. The Pacers entered Saturday 35-29 and eighth in the Eastern Conference.