Indiana Pacers exit interviews: Daniel Theis wanted more chances to play but proved he can still contribute and mentor when healthy

Theis played in just seven games for the Pacers this season

The last 10 months have been a roller coaster for Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis.

He played in the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics last June. Then, he suited up for the German National team for both FIBA and EuroBasket play during the offseason, putting him on the court for more grueling, high-intensity play.

By the time the 2022-23 NBA season rolled around, Theis has been dealt from the Celtics to the Pacers and was facing a new situation. He was also dealing with a knee injury, and his activity level was limited after the early days of training camp.

"Obviously was a roller coaster year for me. But I also learned a lot about myself," Theis said of his season at his exit interview. The knee pain persisted, and so Theis had surgery to address it in early November. "Coming back from surgery, rehab is always a tough situation for a player to be in," he said.

The procedure Theis went through was unique. He talked to doctors and knee specialists all over the world and also chatted with Germany and FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen about surgery options before deciding on his next steps.

The procedure was helpful, though. The soreness subsided, and Theis was able to play again. He made his debut for the Pacers on February 2 after missing the first three-and-a-half months of the season.

He would go on to play in seven of Indiana's next nine games, including five in a row just after returning. He averaged 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the blue and gold.

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"It was only seven games, but for me it was just like being healthy at that point," Theis said of that stretch. In his best game, he had 11 points and five rebounds against the Utah Jazz.

After that point, though, Theis didn't play again. The Pacers pivoted more towards development at the backup center spot, and the German big man fell out of the rotation.

Instead, his job was to be a mentor. He was happy to take on that part of his new role, and he learned teaching skills from Al Horford and Aron Baynes during his time with the Celtics. 

"Going more to being a mentor and a good vet... Now I was able to share that with those younger guys," Theis said of his transition from playing on occasion to not. He singled out Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith as two young players he mentored often.

Theis enjoyed watching those two, and other young Pacers, grow. He was impressed that the team had players who took advice regardless of their age and experience level, which made teaching and learning easier.

But it was hard for Theis, a warrior who has spent most of his career on competitive teams, to not play. "I think all of us are competitors. Everybody wants to be out there and play," Theis said. "But also, you're part of a team. And the team is bigger than every single player," he added. The big man wanted to be on the hardwood and helping the Pacers win, but he instead had to make the most of his new reality.

He enjoyed mentoring Jackson and Smith, the latter of which he referred to as Stix, but he would have enjoyed playing, too. Most players would, but especially a veteran like Theis who has been to the Finals and has three playoff appearances.

"Obviously, I wanted to play more. Like I said, I'm a competitor... for me, I proved I'm healthy," he said of his season. But there just weren't opportunities. For a Pacers team early in the rebuilding process, giving more playing time to young players always made more sense.

When Theis did play, his minutes were unique in that few Indiana bigs could do what he did. He set career-high numbers for usage and assist rate this season, and his screening and rebounding abilities are among the best on the roster. His shot wasn't falling and his speed didn't perfectly mesh with the team's style, but he did have unique qualities on a younger roster.

The faster pace Indiana played made it tough for Theis to hit the ground running. After missing so much time, he had to get his wind up and learn how to play with his new team. He is at his best in set actions, and Indiana liked to play fast, free, and random, which wasn't always perfect for the six-year veteran.

Still, he made the most of his opportunity and showed that he was healthy, which was the most important goal of his playing time. Theis would have liked to play more this year, but getting healthy and improving his mentorship abilities will still benefit the center long term.

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