Pacers Strengthen Backcourt with Dual Guard Acquisitions in 2025 NBA Draft

On June 26, the Indiana Pacers strengthened their backcourt by selecting two seasoned guards during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. With their selections, the Pacers acquired Kam Jones from Marquette and Taelon Peter from Liberty, enhancing their scoring capabilities. At pick No. 38, the Pacers chose Jones, a dynamic 6’5″ guard with invaluable experience, ranking as his school's second-highest scorer after four successful seasons. In his senior year, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, gaining Second Team All-America acclaim and All-Big East First Team recognition. Notably, while his three-point shooting dropped to 31%, he previously excelled, posting over 40% accuracy in his junior year. Subsequently, at No. 54, the Pacers picked Peter, a 6’4″ guard whose unique journey involved succeeding at Division II Arkansas Tech, where he earned Player of the Year honors. At Liberty, Peter averaged 13.7 points while boasting impressive shooting stats. The acquisitions of Jones and Peter are timely, especially with Tyrese Haliburton anticipated to miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season.