The Pacers exercised Walker's third-year option for the 2025-26 season Friday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft will earn $6.67 million in the third season of his rookie deal. He saw limited playing time as a rookie last season, averaging 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 10.3 minutes across 33 games. While Walker has shown potential, Obi Toppin continues to be an obstacle for the 21-year-old forward to receive consistent bench minutes in Indiana's frontcourt rotation.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Not starting vs. Charlotte
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Walker is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's preseason matchup against the Hornets.
Walker got the start against the Grizzlies on Monday, when he posted 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, but he'll retreat to the bench here in favor of Pascal Siakam. As good as Walker has looked in the preseason, he'll open the campaign as one of Siakam's backups at power forward along with Obi Toppin.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Plays 38 minutes in preseason loss
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Walker produced 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one block across 38 minutes in Monday's 120-116 preseason loss to the Grizzlies.
Walker led the Pacers in points and playing time due to both Aaron Nesmith (ankle) and Pascal Siakam (rest) being out. Walker will likely struggle to find significant minutes behind a plethora of talented players in the frontcourt, though he could see an uptick in playing time if injury concerns arise for the club. The 21-year-old appeared in 33 regular-season games last year, during which he averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds across 10.3 minutes per game.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Moves into starting lineup
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Walker will start Monday's preseason game against the Grizzlies.
With Pascal Siakam (rest) and Aaron Nesmith (ankle) unavailable, Walker and Obi Toppin enter the starting lineup. Walker posted 12 points (3-3 FG) and four rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench during last Thursday's win over the Cavaliers.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Perfect from field Thursday
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Walker notched 12 points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds and an assist across 18 minutes off the bench in Thursday's 129-117 preseason win over the Cavaliers.
Walker was one of several solid contributors off the bench for the Pacers in this game, as no starter played more than 18 minutes. Walker is competing for a bench role as a frontcourt option, and this outing might have assured him some extra looks in the upcoming preseason games. Walker made 33 regular-season appearances off the bench as a rookie in 2023-24, averaging 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds across 10.3 minutes per game.
Walker provided five points (2-4 FG, 1-2 FT), one rebound, two assists and one steal over nine minutes during Sunday's 121-89 victory over the Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Walker played nine minutes off the bench, joining his fellow benchwarmers as the Pacers blew out the Knicks. While it was nice to see the rookie on the floor, there was possibly a case to be made for him playing even more minutes given the nature of the score.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Rare appearance Tuesday
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Walker notched one assist over five minutes during Tuesday's 115-92 loss to Milwaukee in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Walker played a handful of minutes during the Game 5 blowout loss in Milwaukee. Despite flashes throughout the season, Walker has been an afterthought for meaningful minutes. The two teams will line up again Thursday, as the Pacers try to wrap things up on their home court.
Walker notched eight points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3Pt), seven assists, four rebounds and one steal across 29 minutes in Monday's 133-116 victory over the Clippers.
Walker had been left out of the rotation in both of the Pacers' last two games, but with Aaron Nesmith (knee) sitting out Monday, Indiana was able to open up some major minutes on the second unit for the rookie. Head coach Rick Carlisle likely didn't plan going into the night to give Walker such a sizable role, but the 20-year-old earned his minutes by capitalizing on his open looks and collapsing the defense as a facilitator. Nesmith could be back in action for Wednesday's game at Chicago to bring the Pacers back to full strength, but Walker might have shown enough Monday to get minutes at the expense of Obi Toppin, Jalen Smith or Doug McDermott.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Good performance in close loss
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Walker finished Wednesday's 132-129 overtime loss to the Bulls with 10 points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and four rebounds over 24 minutes.
With Walker's performance Wednesday, he's appeared in five straight games -- the most of his career. Coach Rick Carlisle still doesn't seem to trust the rookie enough to give him meaningful run regularly, but it's encouraging to see him hold his own in a close game. The Pacers are ultimately trying to win games and make noise in the playoffs, so despite Walker being the No. 8 overall pick in 2023, he won't play if his coach doesn't believe he's contributing to winning ball. Per 36 minutes, the Houston product is averaging 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Recalled by parent club
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The Pacers recalled Walker from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Wednesday.
Walker spent the past week in the G League but will rejoin the parent club ahead of Wednesday's game against Toronto. Over 17 appearances with the Pacers this year, he's averaged 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Recalled to NBA
Rotowire
Indiana recalled Walker from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Tuesday.
Walker was assigned to the G League earlier in the day and posted 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals during a blowout loss to the Delaware Blue Coats. However, with Indiana's frontcourt healthy, Walker hasn't been able to crack the NBA rotation.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Back from G League
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Indiana recalled Walker from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Saturday.
Walker is back with the Pacers after posting 20 points (8-18 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 35 minutes Saturday in the Mad Ants' 114-113 loss to the Westchester Knicks. The rookie first-round pick has appeared in three NBA contests since Jan. 15, averaging 11.0 points in 21.3 minutes per game.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Back to G League
Rotowire
Walker was assigned to the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Saturday.
Walker was recalled on Wednesday but failed to see any NBA action while up with the Pacers. He'll likely see plenty of opportunities in Saturday's G League contest against the Westchester Knicks.
