'Best two-way defender to ever play in the NBA': Benn Mathurin on his goals after win vs. Raptors

Pacers forward Benn Mathurin discusses the win vs. the Toronto Raptors, his ambition to become the best two-way defender in the NBA and team Canada.

Video Transcript

BENN MATHURIN: The fact that we got-- got the win, you know, makes it even more exciting. So looking forward to playing many more games in, you know, Toronto and, hopefully, have a lot of wins.

- How rewarding was it particularly to get back from this? Like you talked about before, you obviously had the injury. You just got back Monday. I imagine you had to do a lot of rehab and-- you know, to make this thing move pretty fast to make sure you got to play in this game and how it was, sort of, worth it [INAUDIBLE] that feel to be able to get out there and play.

BENN MATHURIN: It was good. You know, obviously, you know the work I put in to come back, you know, the rehab and stuff, you know, it was a good time, but also, pretty much, you know, what allowed me to come back as fast as I could and, you know, as healthy as I could as well.

- I think Rick was talking about putting you on Fred VanVleet and just the challenge of that, basically. How do you feel like you did with that? Just, what was that like to kind of step it up and have to defend, you know, somebody at that level? That's obviously an area where you're really [INAUDIBLE].

BENN MATHURIN: Pretty much, you know, my goal is to be, you know, the best, you know, two-way defender, two-way player in the NBA. So obviously, I got to start-- got to be able to guard from 1 through 4, 1 through 5. So, you know, I took the challenge today. I feel like, you know, I did pretty good when I was on him. Obviously, I had a couple mistakes. But you know, as the game went on, I felt like we were able to-- you know, to close it out.

- What impressed you about Drew tonight? And what's impressed you about, just, the growth he's made over the last, you know, week or so when he's had to start with [INAUDIBLE]?

BENN MATHURIN: Well, pretty much, you know, I feel like he stepped up pretty big. You know, you know the role he had today. And, you know, he came out the game pretty hard. So, you know, I felt like he did a pretty good job, you know, just putting a lot of pressure on the rim and pretty much involving his teammates as well.

- Benn, you had a really strong stretch down in the last 5, 6 minutes of the fourth, got to the line, really put some pressure on the defense. And how much of an emphasis do you-- did you put on yourself to make some things happen down there and to have a defense in the game?

BENN MATHURIN: Pretty much just-- just playing hard, you know, and playing, you know, the game the right way. I feel like that was the main thing I had to do when, you know, trying to close out the game. Applying pressure on the rim and-- you know, opens up a lot of things for me. So I was able to get to the line and, you know-- and make a couple good decisions.

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

BENN MATHURIN: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

BENN MATHURIN: Um, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

BENN MATHURIN: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- Um, just one question. Do you think that, especially this summer, this is the moment that-- for a Canadian team wins at least a medal in the World Cup?

BENN MATHURIN: Yeah, pretty much. You know, I feel like that's the one thing that we want to focus, you know, this summer. And, you know, the next summer's coming up. You have a lot of good players who are in the NBA right now, plays overseas. So pretty much got to see what's the best for the team and-- you know, and Team Canada and, hopefully, make a lot of diamonds, pretty much during summers.

- How grateful are you to step into this situation in your rookie year where there are these Canadians on this team and especially to come in with another rookie in Andrew, who you're a bit familiar with? I mean, you kind of come from similar backgrounds. Like, yeah, how nice is that for you?

BENN MATHURIN: It's great, man. It's amazing. You know, I play-- I went through the training camp, the senior training camp, with Andrew. And that's really where I got to know him. You know, I played with Ryan, obviously. But, you know, it allowed me to pretty much-- to process you know, going to the NBA having a lot of Canadians, you know, by my side and obviously having Drew, who I've known before, you know, getting to the NBA. So it's been a great thing.

- Sorry if you were asked this in French. My French isn't good enough to understand what you said.

[GIGGLING]

But what was the OG, the block-- usually, OG's blocking guys, not the other way around. What was that block like [INAUDIBLE]?

BENN MATHURIN: Pretty much, you know, I got the ball. It was going to the basket, trying to get a layup. I was behind him. And, you know, I feel like the time was pretty good. So I just went up for the block and, you know, you know, blocking.

- All right, we'll do a last one over here so we can get him to his family.

- The [INAUDIBLE] that you brought in, is it a variety pack? Or is it specific to [INAUDIBLE]?

[GIGGLING]

BENN MATHURIN: What you say?

- Is it a variety pack of-- [INAUDIBLE] is is a variety pack?

BENN MATHURIN: No, y--

- Or is it specific. to--

BENN MATHURIN: This-- no, it's a bad question. It's all for me, though. You don't get no [INAUDIBLE].

[LAUGHTER]

I'm just playing with you. I was just playing.

- Are you gonna share, though. Or is it [INAUDIBLE]?

- Yeah, if you want, you can get some. you can get some.

- --earlier.

BENN MATHURIN: I appreciate you guys. Thank you.

- Thanks so much.

- Thank you.