Chicago Bulls rookie Dalen Terry expects great things from Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin
College basketball teammates love to go against each other once they reach the NBA. That's why Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs beamed when discussing Indiana Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard, and it's why Toronto Raptors center Christian Koloko looked forward to going against Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. It's a fun experience for young players.
That's why Mathurin and Chicago Bulls wing Dalen Terry were eager to battle last year. On October 26, the Bulls and Pacers were dueling in Chicago, and with 59.7 seconds left in the game, Terry checked in for the Bulls. Mathurin was already on the floor for the Pacers, so the former teammates at The University of Arizona were going to go head-to-head for the first time.
Arizona Basketball staffers Riccardo Fois, Rem Bakamus, and TJ Benson were in the crowd. It was a big minute for both Mathurin and Terry, and one that they won't ever forget. And with less than 10 seconds to go, the Pacers rookie made the moment more unforgettable.
Terry was dribbling the ball roughly 40 feet from the hoop to run out the clock late in the game. Chicago led by 17 at the time, so the 18th overall pick had his guard down. With the outcome decided, Mathurin decided to do something rare in an NBA game and steal the ball from Terry before driving to the other end and drawing a foul.
"You know, he came in the game. My first time actually playing against him in the NBA. I just wanted to show him, it's just like old days," Mathurin told AllPacers after the game. He knocked down both free throws as the Pacers fell 124-109.
Mathurin added that Bulls center Nikola Vucevic was "pissed" about the sequence, but noted that he and Terry are competitors. "If I got the opportunity, I'm going to do it again."
That is how Mathurin is wired. He is as competitive as they come, and he will never back down from a contest, even when his team is out of it. That confidence and spirit is one of Mathurin's most unique and impressive traits.
In this moment, though, it made him unpopular. Still, Terry and Mathurin were teammates for two seasons as Arizona Wildcats, and going against each other still has meaning.
Terry simply said "nah" when asked if he's talked with Mathurin about that moment in late October. More recently, Terry had two rebounds, one assist, and one block as the Bulls and Pacers battled on February 15. Mathurin finished with 14 points.
Just over three weeks prior, Terry discussed Mathurin and their relationship. "We have a different kind of connection with us spending two years together... just having us be able to battle on an NBA court, that's just great to see," Terry said. The two attended an Arizona game with a few other former Wildcats last week.
Terry noted that he and Mathurin were always trying to one-up each other during their freshman season at Arizona. Knowing that, it's no surprise that the Pacers rookie went for the steal and score with just seconds to go in late October. It was a continuation of their long-standing relationship.
During the 2021-22 NCAA season, both rookies played in and started 37 games at Arizona. They led the Wildcats to a 33-4 record and a Sweet 16 appearance. They, along with Koloko, reached the NBA as a result. All three were top-33 picks.
Terry said that Mathurin's mentality and drive for that group spread to his teammates. "It's always good. I feel like as a team, we [were] a real competitive team. So obviously, with him being the alpha that he is, we had alphas on our team. His competitive spirit definitely spread," he said of Mathurin.
Koloko and Terry have grown into useful role players for their teams as rookies. Both are on squads that, like the Pacers, are pushing for a play-in berth in the Eastern Conference. But unlike his two college teammates, Mathurin has ascended above the "role player" label. He has been terrific for Indiana.
The sixth-overall pick is averaging 17.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game so far. He is in the Rookie of the Year mix, though he is still sitting behind Paolo Banchero, and Mathurin could find himself in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation with Malcolm Brogdon, Norman Powell, and Tyrese Maxey if he continues to play well.
Being in the mix for hardware as a rookie is rare. But it doesn't astonish Terry. "I'm not really surprised. I expect great things from him," the Bulls rookie said of Mathurin.
"He's going to try to get himself going no matter what," he added later. That was clear when Mathurin stole the ball from Terry with 10 seconds to go in Chicago, and it's clear every time the Pacers rookie puts on a uniform. Terry knows Mathurin and his mentality better than most, and he thinks that the Indiana rookie will be great in the NBA.
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