Ian Mahinmi is having the best season of his career.
The team’s starting center missed the last four games due to a sore lower back injury. The Pacers are 3-6 this season when Mahinmi hasn’t played.
“In today’s NBA, he’s one of the best defensive centers in the league,” Vogel said, “because he has the shot-blocking and the rim protection, and he’s got the mobility and the IQ to cover ground in the pop game, with all these bigs shooting the 3s and long 2s. And he also has the great ability to guard one-on-one in the low post as a great leverage defender.
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“All these years where Roy [Hibbert] was trying to post up in practice. He couldn’t get anywhere near the lane. And Ian would show him how against starting centers all year long. He’s an elite defensive center for us.”
Mahinmi did not want to take the time to talk pregame as he was focused on exercises and stretches to loosen up his sore lower back.
Mahinmi is making the most of his best opportunity yet in eight NBA seasons. He’s averaging a career-high 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1 block per game in 24.1 minutes. He is shooting 59.8 percent from the floor.