Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin is ready to shine in the Rising Stars game, his first taste of All-Star Weekend
Mathurin is competitive in everything, so expect the same on Friday night. Beforehand, he answered a variety of questions from reporters in Salt Lake City.
SALT LAKE CITY — On Friday night, I look forward to seeing Bennedict Mathurin play in the Rising Stars games. He was one of 21 first- and second-year players selected.
Mathurin doesn’t have an off switch. If he’s playing, he’s competing.
If something is on the line, he wants to win.
A pick-up game, shooting contest, card game — anything, it doesn’t matter.
“Benn hasn’t missed a game,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said this week. “He hasn’t missed a practice, he don’t like going to the training room — he likes all the trainers — but he wants to be competing in everything. It’s really an important thing for who we are becoming.”
The Rising Stars event will be played Friday at 9 p.m. ET at Vivint Arena (airing on TNT) and teammate Andrew Nembhard is on his team — Team Pau (Gasol).
“I think everybody knew Benn was gonna be on it and we hoped that Andrew would be too,” Carlisle added. “The guy has started a whole bunch of games so it’s well-deserved for both those guys.”
And Mathurin will be ready. This is his first opportunity to be featured on a big stage and be seen by a larger audience beyond Pacers fans. He’s already receiving serious consideration for Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year awards.