Former Pacers Player Gets Emotional Thinking About Return

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Inglewood, CA – March 16: LA Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) looks to pass around San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Intuit Dome on Monday, March 16, 2026 in Inglewood, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Indiana Pacers made a big decision at the trade deadline. They decided to trade Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac. Indiana also traded a heavily protected 2026 first-round pick.

Trading Mathurin was a decision that they did not take lightly. Mathurin was a starter for the Pacers this season with Tyrese Haliburton injured. Yet, adding Zubac helped fill their biggest hole on the roster. Zubac only played five games this year before suffering a broken rib.

Meanwhile, Mathurin is thriving off the bench for Los Angeles. He will return to Indiana for the first time since being traded on Friday night. He got a little emotional thinking about it.

Bennedict Mathurin Gets Emotional Thinking About Indiana Return

Following a game against the Raptors in which he had 23 points, Mathurin looked ahead to what it will mean to him to return to Indiana.

“Indiana breathes basketball. Everybody knows that. I already know what to expect. The fans are going to be there, the fans love me. I love the fans over there. They mean everything to me. Well, meant. I’m sorry. A little bit still do. It’s gonna be a lot of love. At the end of the day, Indiana drafted me. Still my second home to this day.”

Mathurin was drafted by the Pacers with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Instead of keeping him as a wing for the future, they thought it was better to send him to Los Angeles. It looks like a trade that could benefit both teams greatly, especially if Indiana lands a top-four pick.

The Pacers will be coming off another loss, as they lost to the Lakers. Indiana has been losing most of their games since the All-Star break, which is right around when it traded Mathurin. Mathurin was better used off the bench for Indiana when he was on the team.

The Pacers Won’t Know if This Trade Works Until Next Year

Indiana is hoping that they keep their draft pick for this season. That is the biggest remaining piece of this trade. If it doesn’t fall in the top four, it will likely head to LA. The Pacers are hoping to land a superstar player with that pick who can help them make another run to the Finals.

Having Haliburton and Zubac return healthy next season will be a big factor in the team being a title contender, as well. The rest of this season is about keeping everyone healthy and continuing to tank. Indiana isn’t used to losing this much in a single season.

The Pacers have never had the number-one overall pick. If they get it this year, it would be perhaps the best time in franchise history to land it. They would have the same core of players that made the Finals in 2025, in addition to a superstar young rookie.

Friday will be an emotional night for Mathurin and fans wanting to welcome him back. He was well-liked by all of the fans of the Pacers.

Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA and College Football for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano