Ben Sheppard Stays Indiana's Glue Guy Off the Pacers Bench
Ben Sheppard opens his fourth year in Indiana as a 25-year-old wing who plays within his role rather than trying to expand it. He's not on the injury report, and after four games logged to start 2026-27 the Pacers have gone 1-3 with him on the floor. Last season he averaged 7.1 points over 65 games, and that two-way, low-usage profile is still the baseline for what Indiana expects from him.
By the Pacers Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightWho Ben Sheppard Is Right NowBen Sheppard is a 6-6, 190-pound guard out of Belmont, now in his third season of NBA experience and wearing No.
Ben Sheppard is a 6-6, 190-pound guard out of Belmont, now in his third season of NBA experience and wearing No. 26 for Indiana. He's 25 years old and has settled into a role as a wing who defends, moves the ball and takes open shots rather than creates for himself. Last season he logged a 13.1 usage rate, among the lowest on the roster, which tells you Indiana leans on him for spacing and connective passing more than shot creation. He is not on the injury report and has no injury history listed, so health has not been part of his story early in 2026-27.
02Last Season's NumbersIn 2025-26, Sheppard played 65 games for Indiana, averaging 21.4 minutes, 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
In 2025-26, Sheppard played 65 games for Indiana, averaging 21.4 minutes, 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He added 0.6 steals and 0.1 blocks per game while turning the ball over just 0.6 times a night, a tidy number for a rotation guard. His shooting was efficient in spots: 43.4% from the field, 36.2% from three and 76.5% at the free-throw line, adding up to a 56.1 true shooting mark. The plus-minus was a team-worst-looking -4.1, a reminder that his minutes often came in stretches the team struggled, not necessarily because of his own play.
03How the Season Has OpenedThrough four games logged in 2026-27, Indiana has gone 1-3 with Sheppard on the floor.
Through four games logged in 2026-27, Indiana has gone 1-3 with Sheppard on the floor. He opened with 13 points, 5 rebounds and a plus-6 mark in 22.1 minutes in a win over Minnesota on October 7. Since then the scoring has dried up: 2 points against Atlanta on October 10, 0 points against Oklahoma City on October 13, and 0 points again against Milwaukee on October 16, with his minutes dipping as low as 16.3 and 18.6 in those outings. His role has stayed intact in terms of playing time, but the shot has not been falling outside of that opening-night performance.
04Where He Fits on This RosterSheppard remains with the same franchise he played for last season, Indiana, so there's no adjustment to a new…
Sheppard remains with the same franchise he played for last season, Indiana, so there's no adjustment to a new system or new teammates to factor in. His profile — low usage, solid free-throw and three-point shooting, limited turnovers — makes him the kind of player a rotation can plug in without disrupting spacing. The early-season minutes in the low-to-mid 20s track with where he sat for most of last season, suggesting the coaching staff is using him in a similar capacity to start 2026-27. There's no mention of a role change, a new position assignment or a shift in how he's being used.
05What to Watch Going ForwardThe scoring stretch to open this season — 13, then 2, then 0, then 0 — is a small sample, just four games, but it's…
The scoring stretch to open this season — 13, then 2, then 0, then 0 — is a small sample, just four games, but it's worth tracking whether the shot comes back the way it did last year at a 36.2% clip from three. He is healthy, with nothing on the injury report and no injury history noted, so absences are not currently a concern. Nothing in his situation points to a trade, a benching or a role change; he's simply a rotation wing trying to find his shot again after a hot opener against Minnesota.
Mann7.2 ppg
