Pacers Standout Explains Rivalry With Pistons’ Jaden Ivey
On Friday night, the 2024 NBA Rising Stars Game took place in Indiana. Two members of the Detroit Pistons represented the team, as the sophomores Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren made their way out there to compete with some of the game’s best rookies and second-year players.
As the showcase progressed, one moment went viral when Indiana Pacers standout Benedict Mathurin was seen trash-talking Jaden Ivey, sending a clear message.
“Even in the Rising Stars you can’t guard me,” Mathurin said confidently.
When Ivey questioned the statement, Mathurin responded once more.
“I said even in Rising Stars game you can’t guard me.”
As the mic’d up moment was posted on social media for all to see, it went viral as Maturin’s confidence was surely backed up by his play on the floor.
Against Ivey’s squad, Mathurin scored 18 points in a five-point win. His team went on and won the tournament, with the Pacers standout landing MVP honors following the event.
After Mathurin’s run, he was asked about the viral moment with Ivey, explaining that while he views the one-on-one as a rivalry on the court, there’s no bad blood,
“He’s a great player, I love playing against him,” said Mathurin. “My challenge is to always bring my best against him. You know he was drafted ahead of me. The thing is, I feel like he brings the best out of me every time we compete against each other. So, there’s no hate. He’s a great guy, he’s a great player, and he’s gonna have a great career. But, every time I’m playing against him, I have that in me.”
During the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey became the fifth-overall pick out of Purdue, landing with the Pistons. Meanwhile, Mathurin made it to the Pacers sixth overall out of Arizona. While it’s not a wide gap at all, falling outside of the top five clearly struck a nerve with Mathurin, who was motivated to prove that he’s truly a rising star in the NBA.
