Indiana Pacers make NBA history as three Canadian players start together for the first time ever
On Wednesday night, for the first time in NBA history, three Canadian-born players were in the starting lineup for the same NBA team.
The Indiana Pacers, who were fittingly playing in Toronto, started Oshae Brissett, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard against the Raptors. It was Canada Basketball night in Scotiabank Arena.
For Brissett, it was just his second start of the season. Mathurin has opened a handful of games, but this was just his eighth start of the campaign. It was the first time that all three players had overlapped in the starting five, though, and it led to history.
"It's an exciting time for Andrew and Benn particularly. Oshae loves coming back here... for those guys, there's just a lot of buzz about being here," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. "Pretty cool thing for these guys to come back."
Mathurin and Nembhard have been excellent rookies for the Pacers this season. Both players were named to the Rising Stars event at NBA All-Star weekend and have had success in their first season. Each player could reach 2,000 minutes played this campaign.
Brissett actually played for the Raptors during his rookie season and has spent time playing for Team Canada before. He originally joined Indiana in 2020. Back then, Nate Bjorkgren was the Pacers head coach, and Bjorkgren is currently an assistant with both the Raptors and Team Canada.
"It also speaks to what's happening in Canada in terms of the development of great young talent. Pretty amazing, pretty breathtaking," Carlisle noted. "They've got Nick [Nurse] coaching the national team. That thing is in great hands. Really impressive. This country has become a real hotbed for basketball talent."
The starting group featuring three Canadians got the Pacers off to a great start. Indiana was ahead 25-17 before any substitutions were made, and they ended up winning the game by just four points. That first stretch proved to be vital.
Nembhard, Brissett, and Mathurin combined for 49 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists on 18/30 shooting. They all played well and filled an important role in the victory in front of friends and family.
For Nembhard and Mathurin, it was their first NBA game in Toronto. They looked poised and focused, though, and didn't let it impact their play. If anything, it elevated their abilities.
Nembhard, in particular, was impressive. He filled in as the starting point guard with All-Star Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, and he did everything asked of him. The 2022 31st overall pick finished with 25 points and 10 assists while shooting 11/17 from the field, and he hit a 30-foot three with 32 seconds to go that put the game away. He was tremendous and clutch, and the Pacers wouldn't have won without him.
"To do it tonight in essentially his hometown, the first time he's back here... The kid used to come to the game [in Toronto] and sit in the third level and all that. To be in the starting lineup and to have this kind of a game...just an amazing night for him and his family," Carlisle said of Nembhard.
In the end, Indiana beat Toronto 118-114 to improve to 33-40. The three Canadians who made history were all vital in the win.
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