The Indiana Pacers have announced the demotion of rookie guard Johnny Furphy to their G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, aiming to give him more playing time. This is Furphy's second assignment to the Mad Ants this season, having previously been sent down on November 6. The 20-year-old, who stands at 6-foot-8, was selected with the No. 35 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Kansas.
Furphy has struggled in his debut NBA season, averaging only 2.6 points with shooting splits of .382 from the field, .344 from three-point range, and a perfect 1.000 from the free-throw line over 23 games. In addition to his scoring woes, he has also contributed 1.3 rebounds per game in an average of 9.1 minutes on the court. Prior to joining the Pacers, he was recognized as a Big 12 All-Freshman Team member, averaging 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds during his only season at Kansas.
The Indiana Mad Ants currently hold a record of 3-2 for this season, looking to capitalize on Furphy’s development during his time in the G League as he seeks to improve his performance and regain a spot on the Pacers’ roster.
