9
Dec
Player Analysis
He's no lie: Furphy earning Pacers minutes
Australian Johnny Furphy is getting limited minutes off the bench for the Indiana Pacers. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Johnny Furphy starting to earn minutes for the Pacers
- Points per game: 3.4
- Rebounds per game: 1.5
- Assists: 0.4
- FG%: 40.5
Australian Johnny Furphy, a 19-year-old rookie selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, is gradually finding his footing in the NBA. With limited minutes in the Indiana Pacers’ rotation, Furphy’s contributions have been modest (as expected), but there are glimpses of potential.
His breakout game came against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, December 5, 2024 when he had 12 points, seven rebounds and block in a 99-90 loss. All for of his field goals came from behind the arc — he went 4-from-8 — and 4-from-9 overall.
Below is an evaluation of his performance through the 2024-25 season so far.
Strengths
- Flashes of Efficiency
- Field Goal Percentage: 40.5% (with some efficient outings)
- Furphy has shown occasional efficiency, particularly in select games where he’s taken and made smart shot attempts. For example, on November 21, 2024, against the Houston Houston, he scored six points on 66.7% shooting in 21 minutes.
- Free-Throw Accuracy
- FT Percentage: 100% (7-for-7 on the season)
- While his attempts are minimal, Furphy has been perfect at the free-throw line, indicating a reliable stroke that could translate to other areas of his offensive game.
- Energy and Activity
- Furphy’s limited minutes have been marked by effort on both ends of the court. His ability to grab rebounds (1.5 RPG in 10 minutes per game) and his ability to get up and down the floor will become more valuable as he earns more minutes.
Areas for Improvement
- Scoring and Offensive Aggression
- Average PPG: 3.4
- Furphy has struggled to find consistent scoring opportunities given limited minutes. It's tough to come off the bench as a rookie in the NBA and make an immediate impact, but he'll get.
- Three-Point Shooting: 27.3% (3-for-11)
- His 3-point shooting has been inconsistent, and he needs to work on becoming a reliable floor spacer to earn more minutes.
- Consistency
- Furphy’s performances have been sporadic. He has games with flashes of productivity (seven points against Orlando on November 14, 2024) and others where he struggles to make an impact. That's not a criticism, it's the reality for almost every NBA rookie.
- Playmaking
- Average APG: 0.4
- Developing his ability to make quick decisions with the ball and facilitate for teammates would, again, earn him more minutes.
- Defensive Presence
- Blocks and Steals: 0.3 BPG, 0.3 SPG
- While Furphy brings energy, his defensive stats are minimal give his limited playing time. He needs to improve his positioning and anticipation to provide more tangible contributions on this end of the floor.
Summary
As a second-round rookie, Johnny Furphy’s performance aligns with expectations for a developmental player. While his minutes and role are limited, Furphy has demonstrated effort, flashes of shooting potential, and a reliable free-throw touch. He'll continue to focus on expanding his offensive repertoire, improving his consistency, and increasing his defensive impact to secure a more prominent role with the Pacers. He'll get there.
Grade: C
Furphy is making the most of his limited opportunities. With time, greater confidence, and development, he has the potential to become a solid rotational player. For now, Furphy remains, expectedly, a work in progress.
About the Author
Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion — and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback. Any email feedback on articles sent to Peter can be published on basketball.com.au for others to read.
