With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the 2025–26 season, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has confirmed that Bennedict Mathurin will step into the starting lineup for Indiana next season.
With the news that Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire 2025–26 NBA season, the Indiana Pacers are being forced to recalibrate not only their on-court strategy but the very identity of their team. Head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t hesitate to make a significant announcement in the wake of this development: Bennedict Mathurin will be moving into the starting lineup. This change doesn’t just signify a shift in rotations—it marks the beginning of a new phase in Mathurin’s young but already promising career and perhaps a reshaping of the Pacers’ long-term vision.
Haliburton’s absence is a heavy blow to Indiana. As the team’s floor general and one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league, Haliburton’s role extended far beyond his ability to rack up assists or knock down threes. He was the heart and brain of the Pacers’ offense—a player who could control tempo, make others better, and bring cohesion to a young, hungry squad that had started to find its footing. Without him, the team loses not just numbers, but identity. Carlisle, who has seen it all over decades of coaching, is now tasked with redefining what Indiana basketball will look like in the upcoming season.
Enter Bennedict Mathurin. The second-year guard out of Arizona has never lacked confidence, and now he’s being handed a golden opportunity. Mathurin, known for his explosive scoring ability, physical style of play, and relentless motor, has shown flashes of brilliance off the bench and in spot starts. Now, Carlisle’s announcement confirms that those flashes will have to evolve into something more sustained, more consistent, and more central. Mathurin is not simply filling in—he’s stepping up, taking on a starring role that will ask more of him mentally, emotionally, and physically than at any point in his career so far.
This promotion doesn’t come as a surprise to those who’ve been watching closely. Mathurin has made steady strides since entering the league. He’s always had the scoring talent, able to get downhill with strength, knock down threes when needed, and draw contact like a seasoned vet. But what’s grown, particularly over the last year, is his understanding of the game—his reads in the pick and roll, his off-ball movement, his defense, and his willingness to adjust his game to help the team win. Carlisle has acknowledged this development in various interviews over the past season, often praising Mathurin’s work ethic, his desire to compete, and his coachability.
Moving into the starting lineup means more than just increased minutes or more shot attempts. It’s about responsibility. It means that Mathurin will now be facing opponents’ top perimeter defenders every night. He’ll need to develop better chemistry with the team’s other core pieces—Andrew Nembhard, Myles Turner, Jarace Walker, and others. He’ll be expected to defend at a higher level, to bring consistency night in and night out, and to be one of the emotional leaders of a team that will likely be in transition. In short, the expectations are going to skyrocket.
Carlisle’s decision to promote Mathurin also shows a great deal of trust. For a coach who values execution, discipline, and adaptability, handing the reins to a young guard in such a crucial time speaks volumes. It means that behind the scenes, Mathurin has earned his place. Practices, film sessions, team meetings—this promotion was not based on hype or potential alone, but on the evidence Carlisle has seen that Mathurin is ready for more. And more is exactly what’s being asked.
The loss of Haliburton inevitably means that Indiana’s offense will have to look different. Without their star playmaker, the Pacers will likely shift to a more balanced approach—less pick-and-roll dominance, more movement, more touches for wings and bigs. This plays into Mathurin’s strengths in many ways. He’s a dynamic cutter, a strong finisher in transition, and someone who can create his own shot when things break down. But he’ll also need to improve as a facilitator. Playing off the ball is one thing; making plays for others under pressure is another. The Pacers will likely run more sets where Mathurin initiates the offense, forcing him to read defenses quickly, understand help rotations, and make decisions that keep the ball moving rather than stall possessions.
This season could be a crucible for Mathurin. He’ll be tested in every way—mentally by the grind of a full NBA season in a featured role, physically by the toll that top matchups and extended minutes will take, and emotionally by the pressure of being a leading man for a team dealing with adversity. But with great pressure comes the opportunity for great growth. The NBA is full of players who only found their true potential when they were forced into the fire. This could be Mathurin’s moment to take that leap—not just as a scorer, but as a complete player.
There’s also a wider impact here. For Indiana, this season becomes a test of its young core’s resilience. With Haliburton out, the narrative could quickly turn pessimistic, with playoff hopes fading and national attention drifting away. But that’s not how Carlisle sees it. His swift decision to elevate Mathurin is an indication that the Pacers aren’t throwing in the towel—they’re recalibrating. They’re betting on internal development, on players stepping up, and on a culture that emphasizes hard work, accountability, and belief. It’s a culture that Haliburton helped build, and one that Mathurin is now being asked to uphold.
Carlisle has long been known for his ability to adapt his schemes to fit his players. In Dallas, he helped mold Dirk Nowitzki into a champion. In Indiana, he’s building a team around youth, athleticism, and pace. Losing a foundational piece like Haliburton will hurt, no doubt. But it also opens the door for creativity—for giving young players more responsibility, for experimenting with different lineups, and for discovering new combinations that might have gone unnoticed otherwise. Mathurin is just the beginning. This season could be a defining one for several Pacers.
As for Mathurin himself, this is the kind of moment that defines careers. Many players wait years for this kind of opportunity—to be handed the starting job with a clear endorsement from their head coach and the understanding that the team’s direction will be shaped in part by their performance. It’s not just a promotion; it’s a challenge, a signal that the franchise sees him as part of its core moving forward. That kind of belief can do wonders for a player’s confidence. If Mathurin embraces it fully, if he uses this season to expand his game and his voice within the locker room, the Pacers could come out of this setback even stronger than before.
It would be easy to dwell on what Indiana is losing with Haliburton’s injury. But Rick Carlisle is choosing to focus on what the Pacers might gain. A new leader. A new voice. A new face to help carry the franchise into the future. Mathurin will be tested, and nothing is guaranteed. But as Carlisle made clear in his statement, the time is now. The door is open. The stage is set. And Bennedict Mathurin is stepping into the spotlight, ready to show that he belongs—not just in the starting lineup, but at the heart of what the Pacers are building.
