“Who Is Ben Sheppard? Inside the Meteoric Rise of Basketball’s Newest Breakout Star”

Indiana Pacers rookie guard Ben Sheppard is quickly transforming from late-first-round draft pick to postseason X-factor, delivering timely buckets, energetic perimeter defense and—yes—the most talked-about mustache in the NBA Playoffs 2025. Breakout moments in Game 2 vs. Knicks Inserted in Rick Carlisle’s rotation after injuries thinned Indiana’s backcourt, Sheppard logged 22 high-leverage minutes in the Pacers’ 112-104 Game 2 win. He finished with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, added three deflections, and posted a team-best +14 plus/minus, sparking a second-half surge that tied the series 1-1. Defensive versatility is the secret sauce At 6-foot-6 with a 6-10 wingspan, the former Belmont star has quickly earned Carlisle’s trust guarding Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and even sliding onto Josh Hart in small-ball lineups. According to Second Spectrum tracking, New York shot just 31% when Sheppard was the primary defender in Game 2, best among Pacers perimeter players. The mustache that became a meme Sheppard’s facial hair started as summer-league experimentation but evolved into a locker-room rallying cry. “I feel like it’s part of me now,” the 22-year-old laughed after practice, crediting teammate T.J. McConnell for the grooming advice. Social media mentions of “Ben Sheppard mustache” spiked 480% week-over-week, driving fresh eyeballs to Pacers content across TikTok and Instagram. From redshirt to rotation mainstay Sheppard appeared in only 48 regular-season games due to a mid-season oblique strain, yet he shot 39.4% from deep and graded out in the 78th percentile for off-ball movement, per Synergy. “I know what I’m in there for—spacing the floor and making life miserable for the other team’s best guard,” he told the IndyStar after Saturday’s practice. What’s next Indiana travels to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Tuesday night. With Andrew Nembhard still nursing knee soreness, expect Sheppard’s minutes to hover near the 20-minute mark. If his disruptive closeouts and timely triples continue, the Pacers could regain home-court advantage and extend a breakthrough campaign that is putting Ben Sheppard—and his signature mustache—squarely in the national spotlight.