Rick Carlisle is Starting a Two-Way Rookie Averaging 0.2 Points Per Game

Rick Carlisle has officially reached the mad scientist portion of the NBA season. According to Underdog NBA, the Indiana Pacers are handing the starting point guard keys to rookie Braden Smith for Monday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.

If you just scrambled to check your fantasy waiver wire or the prop markets, take a deep breath. You are looking at a guy currently averaging 0.2 points and 0.5 assists per game. Starting a player with those numbers is the basketball equivalent of letting a student driver merge onto the Autobahn.

"Lineup alert: Braden Smith will start Monday, per coach Carlisle. (Underdog NBA)"

Smith was the 38th overall pick in the 2026 draft and is currently sitting on a two-way contract. The original plan was for the Purdue product to spend his rookie year running the offense for the G League's Noblesville Boom, not lining up for opening tip in the NBA.

But desperation breeds opportunity. The Pacers are coming off an ugly 98-90 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, and Carlisle is clearly looking for a spark to wake up a stagnant rotation.

For the betting sickos trying to handicap this game, Smith is a total ghost. There is no reliable data for how a two-way rookie with a recent ankle injury history handles starter minutes against an NBA backcourt. Sportsbooks are going to be throwing darts blindfolded when setting his assist props.

It is a great story for the hometown kid getting a shot on the big stage. But it also tells you exactly where Indiana is at right now. When you are pulling a guy out of the G League waiting room to jump-start your offense in early November, things have gone off script.

We will see how long Carlisle's leash is when the ball tips against Atlanta. If Smith manages to hit a single layup on Monday night, he will literally quadruple his season scoring average.