- May 21, 2026
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Pacers guard Ben Sheppard underwent surgery Wednesday on his torn left meniscus and will be sidelined for months, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed to reporters including Tony East of Circle City Spin.
The procedure ended up being a full repair rather than the meniscectomy that had been anticipated. A meniscectomy, which removes the meniscus, carries a shorter recovery timeline. The full repair will keep Sheppard out significantly longer than the weeks originally projected.
The extended absence complicates matters for the 25-year-old wing, who is in the final year of his rookie scale contract. Sheppard will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2027. The Pacers must decide next summer whether to tender a qualifying offer worth $8 million. That decision now carries more uncertainty with Sheppard expected to miss a substantial portion of the season.
Mickey's Angle: Indiana's wing depth gets tested here; keep an eye on who Carlisle leans on for those minutes in Sheppard's absence.
Source: Hoops Rumors - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.