Bennedict Mathurin to undergo surgery, miss rest of 2023-24 season due to torn labrum

Without Mathurin and Buddy Hield (traded), the Pacers will have to adapt now that they're without 27 points per game from the guard position.

Before the Indiana Pacers departed Indianapolis for a two-game road trip that begins Sunday in Orlando, the team announced significant news that will impact the rest of the season.

After further evaluation, second-year guard Bennedict Mathurin was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his right shoulder that will require surgery.

His season is now over.

This announcement was made two days after he was ruled out for a week and was scheduled to be re-evaluated upon the team’s return to town. “We hope it’s not serious,” head coach Rick Carlisle said then.

Mathurin will undergo surgery next in Los Angeles with Dr. Neal ElAttrache — one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country, the one Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers chose for his torn Achilles procedure.

The injury occurred in their win on Tuesday in Dallas.

It appeared to happen with 2:55 left in the first half when he collided with Mavs’ P.J. Washington near mid-court. Mathurin clutched his right-shoulder area as he walked to the bench for a timeout.

Mathurin finished the game, but scored 14 of his 19 points in the second quarter before the injury. (He shot 2 for 7 in the second half.)

This is a big blow for the Pacers, obviously, but even more so since 1) they traded Buddy Hield to the 76ers one month ago, 2) Doug McDermott has a right calf strain that has kept him out for the past five games and 3) rookie Ben Sheppard missed time with strep throat.

Now, more will be asked of everyone — especially Sheppard, newcomer Pascal Siakam and potentially Jarace Walker.

All this, in addition to Tyrese Haliburton not being 100% since suffering a left hamstring strain.

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Mathurin used his left arm to play air hockey with a fan on March 8. (Photo: @Pacers on IG)

See the photo above? I thought it was notable how Mathurin played air hockey with his left arm while his right one was held stiff like it was in a sling. This was with a fan at the team’s annual season-ticket holder party Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Commission Row.

Mathurin started in 19 of 59 games this season and averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. His free-throw rate decreased from his rookie season, from 5.8 attempts per game to 3.8. It was one of many ways he’d had to adapt during his sophomore campaign.

Carlisle demands a lot from Mathurin. He’s emphasized the need to play within the flow of the offense — and we’ve seen that. He’s done a better job of keeping his head up and passing to open teammates. His increased awareness and desire to rebound has also been noteworthy this season.

The most critical step in his development has to come on the other end of the court. To be a great player — and they believe he can — Mathurin must improve defensively. He still has lapses on that end and in judgement, but there has been progress. There will be times when he’s fully locked in and that’s what they need more of.

However, it won’t come this season.

I also wonder what this means for his chances of playing on Team Canada in the Paris Olympics this summer. It’s something that both he and Andrew Nembhard hoped to be considered for, and now that appears out of the question. He’ll only be about four months removed from surgery in mid-July as Canada will ramp up for their trip overseas with an exhibition game with Team USA in Las Vegas on July 10.

Mathurin was voted to the All-Rookie First Team last season and played in the Rising Stars games at All-Star weekend the past two years. He won both years, was voted Rising Stars MVP in Indy, and then won the skills challenge the next day with Haliburton and Turner.

The Pacers (35-29) are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with 18 games left, and the goal of the players since the beginning of the season has been to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

They’ve dropped four of their past six games — Mathurin was one of their most productive players since the All-Star break — and their schedule continues to get more difficult. Next up, games in Orlando and Oklahoma City. Then, they’re home for three consecutive games leading to a five-game out west.