INDIANAPOLIS — Jeremy Lamb is a pretty quiet guy. He was a fairly quiet acquisition by the Pacers this summer. And now, he’s quietly looking like an important piece of the present and future of the team.
President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard called Jeremy Lamb an underrated player and said he would surprise a lot of people this season. So far, so good, albeit in limited action.
I asked Lamb about Pritchard’s comments, and he said, “That’s a great compliment. I’ve just been working and trying to get better. That’s great to hear.”
After averaging a career-high 15.3 points per game last year in Charlotte, Lamb is averaging 17 points per game so far through his first eight games played in Indiana. He’s also pulling down 6.1 rebounds and averaging a career high in assists. Lamb is also a player that takes care of the basketball. He’s averaging less than a turnover per game, despite a pretty significant usage rate. The best part? He’s filling in nicely in the starting lineup, but that won’t even be his role later this season.
The Pacers have been looking for a guard to come off the bench and score for years. When Victor Oladipo returns to the starting lineup, Jeremy Lamb becomes that guy. This season, the Pacers are 6-2 when Lamb is on the court.
At just 27 years old, Lamb could be entering his prime years at the perfect time for Indiana. He gives the Pacers some length, and the ability to score and do whatever is asked. Last season, he was good in the clutch, knocking down three game-winning shots for the Charlotte Hornets.
Another reason he’s a good fit for the Pacers — he has the “we over me” mentality. After Indiana defeated the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win, Lamb’s postgame comments were all about the team.
“We just tried to stay with it,” he said. “We tried to remind ourselves that they would make runs. When they make a run, we have to move back and make our run. We just tried to stay poised and it worked out. I wouldn’t necessarily put it above another win, but it was a good one.”
Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Malcolm Brogdon are the faces of this franchise. They’ll get the majority of the press, and rightfully so. But don’t overlook guys like Jeremy Lamb and what they mean to the team. After starting the season 0-3, the Pacers have gone 11-3 since. They’re on pace for 53 wins without their star player. And with guys like Jeremy Lamb stepping up, they’re continuing to remind the basketball world that they shouldn’t be overlooked.
Tyler Smith covers the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Hoosier basketball for Indy Sports Legends. Smith is also the youth pastor at New Hope Christian Church, and the varsity girl’s basketball coach at Crawfordsville High School.
