INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 28: Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers poses for a photo during media day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS – As the Indiana Pacers blue team shuffled up the floor during their third possession in the team’s recent intrasquad scrimmage, forward Jarace Walker was trailing the play.
He spaced out behind the three-point line on the right wing as the action developed, waiting patiently. He then crept toward the basket and crashed the glass as a shot went up – a three from the left corner. Walker tracked the ball well, sprung up for the rebound, grabbed it, then dunked all in one leap.
It was one play, in one scrimmage, against the one group of players – his teammates – that Walker has battled with in practice settings. But it was one play that represented exactly what the Pacers hope Walker can look like more often this season: A system player.
That’s the phrasing that Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle used to describe his hopes for the young forward in the coming campaign. It was the first day of practice, and all of the reviews were that Walker looked good to open training camp.
“The thing that we’re really emphasizing with him is to become a great system player for us and then move forward from there,” Carlisle said. “But that’s the base. That’s where things have to start. And he’s doing a good job with it.”
Walker is entering the fourth season of his career, and that’s a pivotal one for most first-round draft picks. It’s Walker’s final season on his current contract before reaching free agency for the first time. He’s currently eligible for a contract extension, like many of his teammates, though a new deal for the Houston product seems unlikely.
That’s because of Walker’s track record. After entering his third season refreshed and more mature because of an injury suffered in the 2025 playoffs, the 2023 lottery pick had a wobbly season. He bounced around from role to role and had a dreadful start to his 2025-26 campaign, missing shots left and right. But he recovered and had a strong shooting stretch from Christmas through the All-Star break, knocking down 46.4% of his triples. He then put together a solid all around last few months, showing off a wide variety of improvements.
It was really three mini-seasons in one for a 19-win Pacers team. Now, those same Pacers are healthier and hoping to contend. And that requires better, and more consistent, play from everyone.
What does it mean for Jarace Walker to be a system player for the Pacers?
That includes Walker, who has expectations and financial interests intersecting in his fourth year. “It’s just an understanding that there’s great value in it for him. Guys like him with his physical tools and skill, if they’re dependable system players that have built trust, let’s be honest, there’s a lot of money in it,” Carlisle said of Walker working toward being a better system player. “So why wouldn’t you be interested in that? And the opportunity to help a team win… There are just certain realities with the NBA that are becoming more and more evident. And that is the ability to be an important part of the system is really valuable.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 10: Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 10, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Walker averaged 11.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season, both healthy numbers and career highs. While those stats climbed in part due to more opportunities, Walker set new top marks in his per-minute production even in different roles. His efficiency took a hit, though, and his turnovers climbed.
He knows that cutting out some of his worst plays each game would go a long way toward impacting winning basketball. And that’s exactly what Walker hopes he can do for the Pacers this season.
He’s more comfortable than he has been entering training camp in past years. Walker isn’t rushing things on the court and has better focus. He’s acutely aware of what being a system player will require of him, too.
“Just doing all the little things,” Walker said. “Rebounding, running, getting to my spots, taking open shots, limiting turnovers, just playing the right way.”
After his first three seasons were all drastically different, Walker wants to sacrifice to help the Pacers win. That means concentrating on less appealing, yet still crucial, skills – conditioning, rebounding, physicality, things of the like. Some of those skills don’t translate to statistical production, but they do help a team beat their opponent. And that’s what this season is all about for the blue and gold.
Walker spent a lot of time getting shots up in the summer and took another trip to work out with star teammate Pascal Siakam in Orlando. They had similar starts to their careers – fewer opportunities as a rookie in the NBA, then some G League assignments. Siakam took it in stride and became a multi-time All-Star. Walker is trying to do the same and appreciates that Siakam takes the time to push him and give advice.
And this offseason, Walker pushed himself. The team made conditioning a priority given their pace of play, and the fourth-year forward took it to heart. “You can never be in the best shape unless you just keep going, keep pushing,” Walker said. “So I know how fast we play. I know how hard we play consistently. So that’ll always be the goal every offseason.”
That will help him keep his wind and go hard when given minutes. Playing with force has been the terminology used by Pacers leadership when describing what they want to see from Walker throughout his career, and a tired player avoids forceful plays. Walker has to embrace them in the coming year.
That, plus simplifying his game, will be the keys to Walker being a great role player for the Pacers. So far, his specific spot in the rotation has been backup small forward – he’s spent practice time on the Pacers second unit with T.J. McConnell, Kelly Oubre, Obi Toppin, and Jay Huff.
“He’s looked good,” star teammate Tyrese Haliburton said.
Looking good in training camp is a good start to Walker’s pivotal fourth season. For the young forward to make it a success, both for the Pacers chances at winning and for his wallet, he needs to look good in games, too. That will require consistency and buying into his role, just as most system players do.
Leave a comment