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: 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.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Posts diverse line in win
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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 to NBA
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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: Steps up with well-rounded outing
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Walker tallied eight points (3-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks across 26 minutes Monday in the Pacers' 132-105 loss to the Jazz.
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft has largely been left out of head coach Rick Carlisle's rotation this season, but Walker had several factors that led to him receiving his most minutes of the campaign Monday. In addition to missing three key rotation players due to injury in Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring), Aaron Nesmith (shins) and Bruce Brown (knee), Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) exited the game early, while the likes of Jalen Smith, Myles Turner and Isaiah Jackson all endured foul trouble. The missing players as well as the blowout led to some elevated run, and Walker made the most of the opportunity with a fantasy-friendly line. In spite of the strong showing, Walker could find himself back outside of the rotation Thursday in Sacramento if most of those injured players are available, but the rookie will be someone to keep an eye on later in the season if he finds himself in a more stable role on Indiana's second unit.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Questionable against Denver
Rotowire
Walker (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Nuggets.
Walker is in danger of missing his third consecutive game due to an upper respiratory infection. However, the rookie forward's potential absence shouldn't affect Indiana's rotation.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Returns to NBA
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The Pacers recalled Walker from the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League on Wednesday.
Walker will be available for Wednesday's game versus the Wizards. The rookie forward is averaging 3.2 points and 1.0 assists in 8.0 minutes across his last five NBA appearances.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Recalled to NBA
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The Pacers recalled Walker from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Tuesday.
Walker and Ben Sheppard were both sent down earlier in the day and played in the Mad Ants' 109-106 loss to Santa Cruz. Walker finished the contest with 25 points (9-18 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, two assists, four blocks and two steals.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Back with NBA club
Rotowire
The Pacers recalled Walker from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Wednesday.
Walker is back with the parent club after he suited up for the Mad Ants on Tuesday, playing 26 minutes and finishing with 20 points (7-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in a 131-97 win over the Windy City Bulls. Though he should be available for the Pacers' next game Thursday in Miami, the rookie first-round pick hasn't been a regular part of coach Rick Carlisle's rotation this season.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Goes through practice
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Walker (elbow) was able to participate in Tuesday's training camp practice.
Walker had a minor procedure to remove loose bodies in his right elbow in mid-July, but it's safe to say that he's 100 percent to begin training camp. Indiana spent its first practice with a clear focus on the defensive end, an area where the rookie is expected to thrive. His battle for playing time with Obi Toppin is something to watch during preseason action.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Undergoes minor surgery
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Walker underwent a minor procedure Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow but is expected to be fully recovered by the start of training camp in September, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
The No. 8 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Walker impressed with the Pacers during the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game over four appearances. Assuming his recovery from the procedure goes as planned and he's fully cleared for camp, Walker will likely compete with offseason pickup Obi Toppin for the starting power forward job.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Won't play Sunday
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Walker won't play in Sunday's Summer League finale against the Pistons for undisclosed reasons, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.
Walker starred for Indiana in Summer League, averaging 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game across four appearances, but he won't suit up for the finale. It's unclear if he picked up an injury, or if Indiana has simply seen enough from the rookie first-round pick and wants to allow other players to get an extended opportunity. Either way, Walker will turn his sights on preparing for his first NBA regular season.
