Along with Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin was invited to the 2023 Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, to share his knowledge with young prospects worldwide.
Mathurin, who averaged 16.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season, caught up with HoopsHype to talk about his first season in the NBA, the Indiana Pacers’ future, his confidence, and more.
Do you feel like you should’ve won the Rookie of the Year award?
Bennedict Mathurin: I had a pretty good season overall; there were a few games where I could’ve been better. It’s fine, though. I’m not mad at it; I don’t hold any grudge against anybody. Try to come back next year and have a better season.
Does not winning it motivate you for the upcoming season?
BM: For sure. I want to be the best player that I can be. I’m going into next season with a chip on my shoulder.
What’s one personal or team goal you’ve set for the upcoming year?
BM: The only thing I can think of right now is helping my team win. I feel like I have a big role on my team and will have an even bigger one next year. Trying to help my team make the playoffs.
What do you make of a backcourt with you and Tyrese Haliburton for the long-term future in Indiana?
BM: It’s a blessing. We have a lot of young talent on the team. Indiana is looking to build something with me and Ty, and the rest of the guys. It’s a pretty good thing to have. I’m looking forward to spending many more years with him and making a decent run.
Talk a bit about your relationship with coach Carlisle. He seemed to be coaching you tough but fair all season long.
BM: Me and Rick got closer as the season went on, even more, this offseason. He’s a great guy, and like you said, he’s been hard on me, but I asked for it. He wants the best for me all the time, and he’s looking forward to helping me improve as a player but also as a person. I’m being appreciative of Rick.
I remember the statement you had made saying that you want to be one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. Where does that confidence come from?
BM: Where I’m from. I always wanted to be the best at everything, whether it was playing a sport or even in school. I was always competitive in pretty much everything in my life. I try to use it as an advantage, which has got me to where I am today. It’s who I am today.
You had 23 points in your first matchup against LeBron James, outscoring him and getting the win. Talk about that encounter.
BM: It was a great game. We got the win, and I was pretty happy that we got the win. It’s great playing against great players all the time. It’s a moment I’m not going to forget.
What was your ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment?
BM: My ‘Welcome to the NBA moment’ was doing rookie duties, not getting the doughnuts, and guys on my team messing with my car. On the court, playing against Myles Turner preseason, I had never met a guy like him. An amazing defender, and going to the rim was a bit different than going to the rim in college.
How close are you to the other Canadian players in the NBA? Is that like a brotherhood inside the NBA brotherhood?
BM: For sure. We’re not that many players from Canada in the NBA, but it’s always good to have these relationships. We pretty much know each other from back home; we try to have each other’s back. And overall, we’re looking forward to having even more Canadians in the NBA.
Many of them come from the Toronto area and you’re from Montreal, Quebec. Is there a bit basketball rivalry between them?
BM: Yeah, you could say that. A friendly banter. I got players on my team, and we talk trash here and there. It’s a great thing to have.
Taking you back to your childhood days, how did you end up choosing basketball as a career instead of hockey or football?
BM: I chose basketball because of my sister and my family. They played basketball. Seeing the things that my sister accomplished… and, of course, being competitive, I wanted to be better than her. And so that’s why I decided to keep playing basketball and see how far I can go.
What do you make of the Eurocamp experience?
BM: It’s my first time in Italy. My first time in the Eurocamp as a first-year in-league player. It’s great to see players from all over the world being in one place, competing in front of scouts. It’s a pretty good experience. Seeing how good some of these players I’ve never heard about are.
How would you compare Eurocamp to a U.S. tournament?
BM: Eurocamp is different. You have players from all around the world, with differences in the style of play. It’s really different from a camp in the U.S. In the States, you’re pretty much used to playing the same way, same rules. In Europe, when the ball hits the rim, you can hit it off, so things like that.
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