Jordan Nwora staying ready while outside of Indiana Pacers rotation

Nwora is outside of the Pacers rotation looking in

Jordan Nwora did everything asked of him after being traded to the Indiana Pacers last season. The 25-year old averaged 13 points per game in 24 appearances for the blue and gold down the stretch of the 2022-23 campaign, and many of his skills reached career-best levels. He closed the year well and even set the franchise record for points in the quarter.

Despite having a clear role for the Pacers last season, and having success in said role, Nwora watched his playing time disappear over the summer. Indiana traded for Obi Toppin, signed Bruce Brown, and drafted Jarace Walker. Suddenly, there were two new players in Indiana's rotation, and Walker was ready to soak up minutes as well.

After a quality third season, and a summer of settling in, Nwora is on the outside looking in. Indiana needed upgrades at the power forward spot, and their moves and decisions all make a ton of sense. Toppin and Walker are both young and talented, and Nwora is playing on an expiring contract that can't be extended. Indiana had to think about the future and made the appropriate moves.

Now, though, Nwora is in a spot that will require patience. "Jordan Nwora, I walked in with him, was on the elevator with him. I told him 'every day, make sure you come in here and compete and be your personal best for the team.'," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of a conversation he had with the young forward just before the season. "Invariably, there are going to be opportunities for guys that haven't played a ton in preseason. Because he's a talented guy."

Nwora played in all four preseason outings for the Pacers, and he was in the rotation for the competitive portion of the game when Indiana played in Memphis. He was given a chance to show what he could do with the new-look team.

Nwora lost weight this summer in an attempt to be more versatile. He told AllPacers in August that he was focused on getting into great shape and was ready for the competition coming in training camp.

"The players all know what it is, the coaches know what it is," Nwora said of the Pacers' depth-filled situation. "Just having this depth, it just makes our team better."

He believed he was a faster, and better, player heading into the season. The preseason was somewhat of a struggle for the four-year player. He averaged 4.3 points per game on 33.3% shooting while grabbing an average of 1.3 rebounds. Nwora wasn't worried about his shot accuracy — he's been a talented offensive player his whole career. He wanted to show improvement on defense and in the playaking department.

Nwora had an uphill battle to earn a rotation spot for the blue and gold by the end of free agency. When the regular season began, he still had work to do to earn minutes. So far, he's played in three of Indiana's ten games to open the season.

"Me being a pro, just being ready," Nwora said of his conversations about playing time and what to do when he's outside of the rotation. "Had a strong finish to the year last year, now it's just, I know I can go out there and play."

Nwora noted that he will stay in the gym and keep working on his game. He wants to control what he can control, and that will make him ready when an opportunity comes this season. Injuries, trades, or any number of things could open up a role for the former NBA Champion.

In a competitive environment, like the one the Pacers have, things can change. Nwora acknowledged that. With the team currently playing well, though, he's going to be outside of the rotation for the foreseeable future unless something changes. Patience will be important, even with his offseason transformation and skill growth.

In his three appearances this season, Nwora is averaging 5.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. His shot precision hasn't been at the level he wants.

Nwora's biggest opportunity was in Boston, where he played for over 21 minutes and finished with five points. He went 2/8 that night, but added three assists. He only had three assists 16 times in his career prior to that night, so he did get a chance to show some of the playmaking growth that he's excited about.

As things stand, though, Nwora is on the outside of the Pacers rotation. That looks likely to continue, so he will have to be ready for his next opportunity. Carlisle, meanwhile, will have to manage Nwora's situation.

"It's just a lot of interaction, a lot of communication," Carlisle said when asked what is important with players when there are many guys competing for few roles. Indiana has one of the deepest teams in the league, so Carlisle will have to be an excellent communicator all season long.

That will be important with Nwora. "It's been good. Obviously, playing time has been a little limited. But it's been good, that's part of being on a deep team," Nwora said of his preseason performances. He knows it's important to stay ready, just like he did before his opportunity with the Pacers. It will be a near-constant feeling for Nwora this season, and he will need to play well if he gets a chance in the rotation.

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