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.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Struggles in loss
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Walker posted 13 points (6-21 FG, 1-10 3Pt, six rebounds, two assists and one block in 30 minutes during Friday's 112-91 Summer League loss to Dallas.
Walker has been given more offensive responsibilities in Summer League than he had in college, as he attempted just 2.8 threes per game at Houston. However, his strengths are still tied to his ability to potentially dominate the paint. Walker will likely see more of his looks come at the rim during the regular season but should still be a stout defender and an excellent rebounder for the Pacers as a rookie.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: Leads Indiana in points
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Walker logged 20 points (8-19 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3-7 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and one steal in 29 minutes of Wednesday's 98-87 win over Oklahoma City.
Walker took over a larger offensive role with the Pacers shutting down Isaiah Jackson, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, and delivered with a team-high 20 points. He fell just one rebound shy of a double-double. He'll continue to be Indiana's top offensive option for the remainder of Summer League.
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Pacers' Jarace Walker: All-around performance
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Walker posted eight points (3-13 FG, 1-5 3PT, 1-2 FT), 13 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks over 30 minutes of Saturday's 91-83 Summer League win over Washington.
Walker was dominant on defense, swatting three shots and grabbing three steals while pulling down 11 defensive rebounds. What was most surprising, however, was his passing, dishing out five assists and pushing the ball through tight windows to set up his teammates for easy baskets. While Walker struggled to find the bottom of the net, he remained confident and continued to fire away when open. Throughout the pre-draft process, Walker's raw offensive game was his biggest knock, but he should be expected to put up better numbers on that end moving forward.
