Ben Sheppard Eastern Conference Finals Primer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Former Belmont University men's basketball standout Ben Sheppard ('23) will take part in the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
 
Sheppard, selected by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 26 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has emerged as one of the top bench contributors throughout this year's NBA Playoffs.
 
The 6-6 guard is averaging 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.5 steals per game in 19 minutes per game during the playoffs. Sheppard has appeared in all 13 Pacers' playoff games and has posted remarkable efficiency statistics:
 

• 66.0 effective field goal percentage (2^nd among qualifying players in NBA Playoffs)
• 47.4 3-point field goal percentage (2^nd among qualifying players in NBA Playoffs)
• +48 +/- player rating (3^rd among qualifying bench players in NBA Playoffs)

 
Moreover, Sheppard posted a +21.5 adjusted net rating in the Pacers seven-game series victory over the New York Knicks per Evan Sidery – second only to Pascal Siakam on the Indiana roster.
 
Sheppard went 7-for-11 from 3-point distance at Madison Square Garden during the Knicks series.
 
The Atlanta native averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in 57 game appearances during the regular season.
 
He made his first career start March 25 at the Los Angeles Clippers, where he posted seven points, five rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes with a +13 rating.
 
Sheppard scored a season-high 15 points Feb. 25 vs. Dallas.
 
Sheppard, who earned his bachelor's degree from Belmont in May 2023, led Belmont to 98 victories and three conference championships during his decorated career.
 
He was one of only four players in college basketball during the 2022-23 season with at least 600 points, 150 rebounds, 75 assists, 75 3-point field goals while shooting at least 40 percent from 3-point distance (Brandin Podziemski, Souley Boum, Landers Nolley).
 
A finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year award, Sheppard was the only player named 2023 All-MVC First Team and MVC All-Defensive Team.
 
Despite establishing himself as the most complete and most-clutch player in the conference, including game-winning shots over Bradley and Indiana State, Sheppard finished runner-up for the 2023 Larry Bird Trophy - given to the MVC Player of Year. Tucker DeVries of Drake received the award in one of the closest votes in league history.
 
Sheppard also joined program legends Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson to earn first team all-conference honors in consecutive seasons in two different conferences.
 
Sheppard was among the top performers at the 2023 NBA Combine in Chicago, posting the fastest shuttle-run time and scoring a game-high 25 points in his final scrimmage.

Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics will take place Tuesday, May 21. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT from TD Garden. The game will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
 
Belmont has several connections to the NBA, including recent NBA Champions and first-round selections:

• Ian Clark, 6-year NBA veteran (2017 NBA Champion, Golden State Warriors)
• Dylan Windler, 2019 NBA Draft (No. 26, Cleveland Cavaliers)
  • Currently on the Atlanta Hawks
• Joe Gaines, 1972 NBA Draft (Portland Trail Blazers)
• Evan Bradds, Utah Jazz assistant coach
• Adam Barnes, New Orleans Pelicans director of college scouting
• Drew Hanlen, leading NBA skills development coach
• T.J. Saint, Birmingham Squadron head coach

Ben Sheppard Profile
Height: 6-6
Weight: 190
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Career Stats: 1516 points, 485 rebounds, 225 assists, 202 3-point field goals, 126 steals
Senior Stats: 18.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, .519 fg, .415 3fg

Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 14 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon) and 19 or game games in 19 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last five years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence