Aaron Nesmith was drafted 14th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, and after two underwhelming seasons, was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon before the 2022-23 season.
Since then, Nesmith has carved out a significant role as a 3-and-D wing for a team that has made the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons. During his three seasons with Indy, Nesmith has averaged 11.4 points and 3.9 rebounds and has seen his three-point percentage increase every year from 36.6%, 41.9%, and 43.1% this season. In addition, Nesmith has been tasked with guarding some of the league’s best perimeter players, where he averages almost a steal per game.
In the playoffs, especially during the current Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the New York Knicks, Nesmith has taken his defensive prowess to another level. Assigned to guard Clutch Player of the Year and two-time All-NBA second team selection Jalen Brunson, Nesmith has effectively shut him down. Most notably, during last night’s Game 5, he held Brunson to just 10 points on 3/13 shooting in 30 minutes, a stark contrast to the 21 points Brunson scored in the other seven minutes.
Nesmith has also stepped up his game on the offensive end. During the Pacers' 14-game playoff run, Aaron has averaged 15.1 points while converting on 51.9% of three-point attempts.
Celtics fans may be asking, Why did President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens, give up on Nesmith? At the time, the Celtics were set on the wing spots with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and off the bench, they had strong guards and wings headlined by Josh Richardson and Dennis Schroder.
As the Eastern Conference Finals progress, Aaron Nesmith’s evolution from a first-round castoff to a reliable 3-and-D wing shows that sometimes a change in scenery is all it takes for a player to redefine their career.