Indiana Pacers’ Draft Pick Reveals What He Brings to the Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With the 54th pick in the NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Taelon Peter from Liberty University. Weeks after the draft, they signed him to a two-way contract, where he will join Enrique Freeman and, most likely, Quenton Jackson.
Peter was expected to go undrafted by most experts, as he did not play in a major conference and didn’t even start for the Flames, although it didn’t stop him from averaging 13.7 points while shooting a red-hot 45.3 percent from deep and leading the NCAA in true shooting percentage.
As a late pick, Peter knows he likely won’t play a big role on the Pacers, although with Tyrese Haliburton out for the season, they could use some guard help and he can play up to 50 games as a two-way player.
“It’s always great to be on a winning team, a team that doesn’t need you to come in and change the whole franchise, it’s something that’s better than going to a place that expects you to change the whole thing, so being able to come in here with guys who are on the up and learn from them, learn their habits, learn what they do to win and be successful and have time to settle in and adapt to what they’re doing here is a blessing,” he summed up.
Most fans likely aren’t familiar with Peter’s game, unless they closely follow mid-major college basketball, although he insists that he is a winner and thinks coming off the bench for the Flames actually helps his game.
He thinks that fault is actually an overlooked advantage.
“First and foremost, I’m a winner,” he continued. “I do whatever the team needs to win, but I’m an energy guy, I’m a spark plug. I got comfortable last year with coming off the bench and coming in and making a spark in the game, but I would say I can make 3s, on the move, catch and shoot, and I’m a sneaky athlete.”
Peter will get his first chance to show off his skills in the Summer League, with the Pacers taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 10.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.