Age: 22
Years Pro: 1
Status: Entering the second year of a three-year contract
Key Stats: Appeared in 33 games for the Pacers (seven starts). Averaged 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Shot 61.4 percent from the field and led the team in offensive rebounds per game (2.9)
If Jalen Smith is considered the Pacers’ most underrated trade of the year, then Terry Taylor is the Pacers’ most underrated G League acquisition of the year.
Reminiscent of Oshae Brissett’s career path with the Pacers, Taylor went undrafted and played for Indiana’s G League squad, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, at the start of the season. While there, he earned praise for his scoring ability and his expertise in rebounding, especially on the offensive glass. The Austin Peay product averaged 19.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks over an 11-game stretch with the Mad Ants. And that was enough to get the Blue & Gold’s attention. The squad brought him into the fold on a two-way contract on Dec. 15, 2021.
PHOTO GALLERY: Terry Taylor's 2021-22 Season in Photos »
Taylor saw minor action over the next month, appearing in just two games for a total of 5:30. However, that all changed towards the late weeks of January when the injury bug struck Indiana's big men. He seized his opportunity and ran with it.
On Jan. 31, Taylor dropped 15 points and hauled in eight boards versus the Los Angeles Clippers, starting a run of three impressive games for the forward. Two days later against Orlando, he posted career highs in both points (24) and rebounds (16) for his first career double-double. That earned him a starting spot in the Pacers’ next game against the Chicago Bulls. Taylor shined again, finishing with another double-double (21 points, 14 boards – eight on the offensive glass).
While those two games represent his only double-doubles of the season, Taylor finished with double figures 15 more times. If he had an off shooting night, the 6-5 forward made up for it on the boards. That sentiment proved true even when playing against much taller competition at the power forward position. The forward frequently hustled on the offensive glass, earning multiple second and third-chance opportunities for the Blue & Gold’s shooters. He was one of two Pacers on the current roster to secure eight offensive rebounds in a game and the only one to do it twice. Thanks to his tenacity, the rookie boosted the Pacers’ offensive rating by two points when he was on the floor (114.7 points per 100 possessions).
“I don’t really care what position I play,” Taylor said during his final media availability. “I just want to play and help my team out as much as I can and win games.”
The undrafted rookie’s constant hustle eventually paid off, as the Pacers opted to convert his two-way contract into a standard one on April 7. Although Taylor admitted he “didn’t envision” the contract change to occur this year, many Pacers fans will agree that it was the right move.
Taylor fits the mold for Indiana basketball. And he certainly has the mentality to keep grinding in the offseason to become better. Look for him to be a key piece for the Blue & Gold next season as the squad develops the younger players on its roster.
2022 Pacers.com Player Review Schedule
April 18: Tyrese Haliburton
April 19: Buddy Hield
April 20: Chris Duarte
April 21: Isaiah Jackson
April 22: Oshae Brissett
April 23: Malcolm Brogdon
April 24: Goga Bitadze
April 25: Myles Turner
April 26: Duane Washington Jr.
April 27: T.J. McConnell
April 28: Jalen Smith
April 29: Lance Stephenson
April 30: Terry Taylor