The Indiana Pacers' season continues to unravel, and the latest injury update surrounding Bennedict Mathurin may push the franchise toward a defining and risky decision. The fourth-year wing is out indefinitely with a sprained right thumb as well as turf toe, with head coach Rick Carlisle offering no timetable beyond saying Mathurin will be sidelined "for a while" according to reports from ClutchPoints NBA reporter Brett Siegel.
For a team already holding the NBA's worst record at 6-30, the timing could not be worse.
An Indefinite Injury at the Worst Possible Time
Mathurin's thumb injury adds to an already frustrating season marked by availability concerns. He previously missed time earlier in the 2025–26 campaign with a toe sprain and has now missed more than a dozen games total. While he attempted to manage the thumb issue, rest has become unavoidable, sidelining one of Indiana's few reliable scoring options.
The Pacers are already without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who continues to recover from an Achilles injury. Combined with extended absences from Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, Obi Toppin, and T.J. McConnell, Indiana's rotation has been in constant flux. The result is a 12-game losing streak and a season drifting quickly toward the lottery.
Production That Complicates the Decision
When available, Mathurin has been productive. In 24 appearances this season, he's averaged a career-high 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three. He also earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup after spending much of his first three seasons coming off the bench.
That growth is exactly what makes the situation so complicated. At just 23 years old, Mathurin has flashed real All-Star upside. There is a plausible future where he becomes a cornerstone scorer on the wing. But there is also a reality where that player never fully materializes in Indiana.
Contract Pressure and an Unclear Role
Mathurin is approaching restricted free agency, and league expectations suggest his next deal could land around $25 million annually given the recent paydays of players like Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey and New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III. That figure would make him one of the Pacers' highest-paid players, an uncomfortable position for a franchise that hasn't paid the luxury tax in two decades.
Compounding the issue is role clarity. Even after moving into the starting lineup, Indiana still appears undecided on whether Mathurin is a long-term starter or a high-end scoring sixth man. That ambiguity matters when roster upgrades, particularly at center are reportedly on the table, and Mathurin's contract status makes him one of the Pacers' most valuable trade chips.
This isn't about the Pacers wanting to move on from Mathurin. It's about circumstances closing in. An indefinite injury timeline, a pending payday, an undefined role, and a collapsing season have created a narrow window for Indiana to act.
There is a world where Bennedict Mathurin becomes an All-Star. The growing concern in Indiana is whether that version of him will ever arrive wearing a Pacers uniform.
Newsweek