NBA India Games 2019: 3 Indiana Pacers players to watch out for

The Indiana Pacers are set to face off against the Sacramento Kings at the NCSI Dome, Mumbai on October 4th and 5th, in what will be the first ever NBA games in India. The pre-season clashes between these two young, talented squads is gathering serious momentum as the country eagerly awaits quality basketball from out West.

Although the Pacers will miss their All-Star Victor Oladipo, who continues rehab from the gruesome knee injury sustained in January, they have ample talent to put on a show for the excited Indian fans.

Led by head coach Nate McMillan, Indiana will be aiming to earn positive results with training camp set to start this week and the regular season less than a month away. Without further ado, let's take a look at three Pacers players most likely to stuff the highlight reels through the two featured games and leave us all wanting more:

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#3 Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis was named the Lithuanian Player of the Year in 2018.

After being drafted as the 11th overall pick in 2016 by the Orlando Magic, Domantas Sabonis has shown noticeable player growth with each passing year. His major breakthrough came when in a Pacers uniform and the 23-year-old hasn't shown any signs of stopping since then.

Just this past season, Sabonis posted impressive averages of 14.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, on a staggering conversion rate of 59% from the field. In the absence of Pacers' go-to man Oladipo, Sabonis took charge of the offense, exhibiting uncharacteristic resilience and poise, leading his team into the postseason as a respectable fifth seed in the East.

His most recent showing in the FIBA World Cup for the Lithuanian national team also proved the 6-foot-11 power forward is unafraid to take hold of the leadership role in crunch situations when called upon.

#2 Myles Turner

Myles Turner led the league in blocks last season and will be looking to continue improving in 19/20

Given his varied skillset, Turner might be the league's most underrated big man. The seven-footer is a dominant entity in the paint on both ends of the floor, while posting career-high rebounding numbers during the 18/19 season with the Pacers.

Unsurprisingly, he carried his brilliance forward to the FIBA World Cup, with his offensive and defensive grit a lone bright spot during an otherwise forgettable campaign for Team USA.

During the 2018/19 campaign, the Pacers center averaged 13.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and a league-leading 2.7 blocks per game on 49% shooting from the floor. For the four-year, $72m contract extension he signed in 2018, Myles has quickly gone to work proving why he's worth every penny the franchise offered him. His ferocious dunks and disrespectful swats are worth watching out for, when he takes to the floor in Mumbai.

#1 Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon signed with Indiana as part of a sign-and-trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for future picks

Brogdon's positive effect on any team's offense is something often overlooked. The former Rookie of the Year posted career-high scoring averages of 15.6 points per game through his last season with the Milwaukee Bucks. In contrast to following years, Malcolm was a rather underwhelming 36th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Netting 92% of his free throws last season, the 26-year-old played a pivotal role in the Bucks' league-leading win-loss record of 60-22. In addition, the former Virginia guard shot a career-high 50.5% from the field and an imposing 42.6% from beyond the arc.

His ability to drive to the rim as well as make room for jumpers is a highly underrated facet within his game and a treat to watch for those who appreciate fundamentally sound basketball plays. It'll be interesting to see how he fares, especially as the NBA India games will be his first ever official showing in a Pacers uniform after his summer move.