The No. 13 in the 2021 draft is no ordinary rookie. Having completed four years of college, Chris Duarte comes to the NBA as a mature boy who is expected to return immediately in Indiana. His last two years at the University of Oregon raised expectations for this Dominican guard, and once he has worked out and played with the Pacers in the Las Vegas Summer League, that perception has been endorsed.
As reportedJ. Michael from Indianapolis Star, The point guard will not start the regular season in the starting five (as expected), but the management is certain that he will make his way to be an essential piece in the project that begins this season with Rick Carlisle in command of operations.
One of the facets that has most impressed the Indianapolis organization is that of a leader. Although the team has established players such as Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, last season there was a certain lack of command as things went wrong. The leadership skills displayed by the rookie have been very popular with a team that wants to return to the playoffs.
And there is more. His scoring ability aside, the Pacers project him as a two-way player to make a difference within a team that in its best moments stood out for that, for being as fierce under its own ring as effective in attack. Duarte’s ability to read and understand what to do on defense can boost his minutes, not only acting as a point guard (Brogdon and McConell are there) but as a companion to one of them in the backcourt. So they think of it in Indiana.
Shining in Vegas
The Summer League is a very different story from the NBA, but that is not why we should not ignore what is shown by those who expect their debut among the best players in the world in the month of October –we are finally back to the usual calendar–. In that scenario, Chris Duarte has been one of those who has stepped the hardest. To be exact, he has averaged 18.2 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks in 27 minutes a night, and all with a fantastic 48.3% on 3s. This does not mean that it will be a true reflection of what he contributes in the regular season, but it does warn about what the Pacers have on their hands. Paints well.
(Photo by Joe Scarnici / Getty Images)
