Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin is certainly not lacking in confidence.
At the University of Arizona, the Montreal native excelled as a player thanks to his fearlessness and competitive nature. Before even stepping foot on an NBA floor, it's clear that he's brought those traits with him to the next level.
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In a pre-draft interview with the Washington Post, Mathurin had this to say of Lakers forward LeBron James: "A lot of people say he's great. I want to see how great he is. I don't think anybody is better than me. He's going to have to show me he's better than me."
While Mathurin's words will undoubtedly raise plenty of eyebrows, he's expressing the same confidence that has gotten him to this point in his career.
That confidence is the edge that drove Mathurin to post averages of 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists during his sophomore year at Arizona — numbers worthy of earning Pac-12 Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season. As a result, he was selected sixth overall by the Pacers in last week's draft.
Mathurin's edge is what sets him apart from other rookies in his class.
.@TyHaliburton22 and @BennMathurin are about to be a problem. pic.twitter.com/5zJx3mHYIB
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 24, 2022
As for his words, Mathurin stays within reason. Sure, he's a rookie that has yet to log an NBA minute, but is he supposed to believe that anyone is better than him?
It's an air of confidence that doesn't cross the line, as Mathurin ultimately admits that it will all be settled when he and James face one another during the upcoming season.
Mathurin might be 18 years younger than James, but they're now on the same plane as two of 500-plus NBA players. All that's left is for things to be settled on the floor.
Make sure to circle both meetings between the Pacers and Lakers on your calendar this upcoming season.
