Indiana Pacers officially sign Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard to rookie-scale contracts

Walker and Sheppard were selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft

The Indiana Pacers announced on Saturday that they have signed first-round draft picks Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard to contracts.

Both players, by virtue of being chosen in round one of the NBA Draft, are on rookie-scale contracts. Each first-year player is on a four-year deal that has a team option in the third and fourth seasons.

For Sheppard, all four seasons of his contract total just over $13 million. In Walker's case, that number is about $27.5 million. If they each remain with Indiana for the life of the deal, they will be restricted free agents for the team in the summer of 2027.

Sheppard and Walker could be seen signing their contracts on a balcony of the St Vincent Center on Saturday at about 230 p.m Eastern Time on Saturday. Walker was filming Sheppard putting pen to paper on his deal.

get you a hype man like Jarace. 😂 https://t.co/dwi0BVSglu pic.twitter.com/3z0jPifkVg

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 1, 2023

Walker was selected eighth overall while Sheppard was drafted with the 26th pick. They are both currently preparing for NBA Summer League play, which begins on Saturday for the blue and gold.

"Had a good first practice," Walker said over the weekend. He said he's learned a lot of offensive and defensive sets already.

"Listen and observe," he added of the advice he has gotten from his older teammates.

He averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in college, but it is his defense that is his standout ability. He can switch and guard multiple positions, which will be crucial for the blue and gold. Sheppard, meanwhile, averaged 18.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in his final season at Belmont.

Walker will wear number 1 for Indiana while Sheppard will rock 26.

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• Jarace Walker's high school program director breaks down the Pacers' lottery pick's growth. CLICK HERE.
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