Four Indiana Pacers make Bleacher Report list of Top 100 NBA players
With about one month until NBA training camps open up and preseason play begins, many outlets will release their list of the top 100 NBA players in the coming weeks. Bleacher Report published theirs on Thursday, and the Indiana Pacers are well represented.
Four different Pacers players made the list of the NBA's best talents, including one new addition to the team and one rising youngster. That reality is part of why Indiana expects improvement this season. They added skill in free agency and have multiple inexperienced players who could take a step forward this season.
The lowest rated Pacer on the list is Bennedict Mathurin, who is placed at 94th on the listing. He was unranked last year heading into his rookie season. Having Mathurin in the top 100 is high praise for the 20-year old, and reflective of a belief that his isolation scoring and ability to get to the line will be matched with other skill improvements next season. He made First-Team All-Rookie last year for the blue and gold.
The next member of the blue and gold listed is Bruce Brown, who the team signed to a two-year deal in the offseason. Brown just played a vital role for the Denver Nuggets in their championship season, and his ability on both ends of the floor will make him a snug fit on a Pacers team that needs a defensive boost. He is ranked 88th on Bleacher Report's list after not being ranked last season.
Myles Turner shows up next for the Pacers, coming in as the 57th ranked NBA player. He improved significantly last season, setting career highs in points (18.0) and rebounds (7.5) per game. This year, he is hoping to become more efficient.
Turner climbed from the 71st ranked on Bleacher Report's list last year to 57th this year. That represents his growth as a player, especially in his mid-20s, well.
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton is the Pacers player with the best ranking. He comes in at 33rd, a significant climb from his spot at 51 last year.
Haliburton is currently showing the World via his play with Team USA exactly what he's been showing the Pacers for years — he's a unique and exceptional talent. He has a combination of passing, shooting, and running an offense that few players in the league have. That's why he is so important to the Pacers, and why he could continue to climb these lists.
Some other notable former Pacers ranking on Bleacher Report's Top 100 list include Paul George (18th), Victor Oladipo (unranked), Malcolm Brogdon (88th), and Domantas Sabonis (35th). The full list of rankings can be found here, the first of many Top 100 predictions that will be revealed this summer.
- Catching up with Indiana Pacers forward Jordan Nwora: On his offseason, team goals, and more. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers 2023-24 Schedule: Full dates, opponents announced. CLICK HERE.
- Team USA guard Tyrese Haliburton is showing the World exactly what he showed the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
- How Oscar Tshiebwe can help the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
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