Indiana Pacers standout Bennedict Mathurin made headlines on Friday night at the NBA Rising Stars Game for reasons beyond his unanimous MVP honors.
As the Pacers sophomore faced Detroit Pistons veteran Jaden Ivery in the first matchup, he was heard dishing out a little bit of trash talk to his opponent.
“Even in the Rising Stars, you can’t guard me,” he said. “I said even in Rising Stars game you can’t guard me,” he repeated to make himself clear.
Following his run at the Rising Stars game, Mathurin acknowledged his viral moment and made it clear that he views his one-on-one with Ivey as a rivalry based on where they both drafted.
Related: Pacers Standout Explains Rivalry With Jaden Ivey
“He’s a great player, I love playing against him,” said Mathurin. “My challenge is to always bring my best against him. You know he was drafted ahead of me. The thing is, I feel like he brings the best out of me every time we compete against each other. So, there’s no hate. He’s a great guy, he’s a great player, and he’s gonna have a great career. But, every time I’m playing against him, I have that in me.”