Ben Sheppard Bio
Benjamin Lee Sheppard, known professionally as Ben Sheppard, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 190 lb (86 kg), he plays the shooting guard position and wears jersey number 26. He played college basketball for the Belmont Bruins before being selected by the Pacers in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft with the 26th overall pick.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sheppard has built a reputation as a steady perimeter shooter and a reliable rotation player since entering the league. He signed his rookie contract with the Pacers in July 2023 and has continued to develop within the Indiana organization, including a brief developmental assignment with the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Lee Sheppard was born on July 16, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. He grew up in the Atlanta area and attended Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Georgia. At GAC, he developed into a productive scorer and a respected team leader, averaging 13.7 points per game during his junior season while helping the Spartans win the Class AAA State Championship.
His high school success placed him on the radar of college programs across the country. Sheppard committed to Belmont University, a private university in Nashville, Tennessee, known for its competitive basketball program. The move gave him the opportunity to refine his shooting stroke, conditioning, and overall game against strong mid-major competition.
Path to Basketball
Sheppard arrived at Belmont in 2019 and adjusted to the college level during his freshman campaign. He appeared in 32 games, averaging 2.9 points per game as he learned the pace and physicality of Division I basketball. The experience helped him build a foundation for larger roles in the seasons ahead.
Going into his sophomore year, Sheppard earned a starting role and averaged 10.5 points per game, showing the kind of scoring consistency that would soon make him one of the conference’s top guards. As a junior in 2021–22, he elevated his production to 16.2 points per game and was named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference, a recognition that confirmed his status as a professional prospect. When Belmont moved to the Missouri Valley Conference, Sheppard continued to produce at a high level as a senior, averaging 18.8 points per game and earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2023. His steady climb through four college seasons set the stage for his selection in the 2023 NBA draft.
Ben Sheppard Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Sheppard’s early career at Belmont was marked by steady improvement and an expanding role within the Bruins’ rotation. He went from a limited role as a freshman to a starter as a sophomore, then emerged as one of the most productive scorers in the Ohio Valley Conference as a junior. His development in the mid-major ranks gave him the experience needed to handle the demands of professional basketball.
By his senior season, Sheppard had become the centerpiece of the Belmont offense. His first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection capped a four-year college career in which he steadily raised his scoring average and his draft profile. Following the season, he declared for the 2023 NBA draft and was selected 26th overall by the Indiana Pacers, the organization he continues to represent today.
Indiana Pacers Era (2023–Present)
The Indiana Pacers selected Sheppard in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft, and on July 1, 2023, he signed his rookie contract alongside eighth overall pick Jarace Walker. Sheppard immediately joined the Pacers’ perimeter rotation and spent time with the Indiana Mad Ants, the team’s NBA G League affiliate, during the 2023–24 season to continue his on-court development.
Sheppard’s role with the Pacers has grown as he has showcased his shooting, work ethic, and willingness to take on defensive assignments. He has provided the team with reliable spot-up shooting and has contributed to a young Indiana roster that has continued to trend upward. His combination of size, length, and perimeter skill has made him a useful piece in the Pacers’ long-term plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sheppard profiles as a 3-point shooter whose value comes from floor spacing and off-ball movement. His size at 6 ft 6 in allows him to shoot over smaller guards, and he has worked to become a consistent catch-and-shoot threat. He continues to develop his on-ball playmaking and defensive versatility as he gains experience at the NBA level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sheppard’s most significant milestone came on draft night in 2023, when the Indiana Pacers selected him with the 26th overall pick in the first round. He also earned back-to-back first-team all-conference honors in college, including first-team All-OVC in 2022 and first-team All-MVC in 2023, capping a strong four-year run at Belmont.
Ben Sheppard Career Wins
Sheppard’s career is still in its early stages, and detailed win totals across professional and college play are not fully summarized in available verified sources. His signature achievements to this point are his two first-team all-conference selections at Belmont and his first-round selection in the 2023 NBA draft.
Belmont Highlights
Across four seasons at Belmont, Sheppard established himself as one of the program’s top guards. He averaged 18.8 points per game as a senior and earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2023. As a junior, he averaged 16.2 points per game and was named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference, marking his arrival as a primary scoring option for the Bruins.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his conference honors, Sheppard helped lead Greater Atlanta Christian to the Class AAA State Championship during his high school junior season, averaging 13.7 points per game. He has continued to log minutes and contribute in rotation roles with the Indiana Pacers, building a foundation for future success at the NBA level.
Ben Sheppard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly verified information about Ben Sheppard’s family background and any athletic lineage is limited. He grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and attended Greater Atlanta Christian School, where he developed into a college-level prospect.
Personal Life
Verified details about Sheppard’s personal life, including marital status, partner, and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He remains focused on his early NBA career with the Indiana Pacers as he continues to develop within the organization.
2025 Season Performance
Ben Sheppard enters the 2025 NBA season continuing his development with the Indiana Pacers, the organization that drafted him 26th overall in 2023. He remains under his rookie contract and is expected to compete for an expanded role in the Pacers’ perimeter rotation. His shooting ability and size at the shooting guard position give Indiana a useful piece around its younger core.
Throughout the early portion of the 2025 campaign, Sheppard has continued to focus on consistency, defensive effort, and stretching the floor from beyond the arc. The Pacers have prioritized the growth of their young players, and Sheppard’s work with the team’s development staff, including his time with the Indiana Mad Ants, has helped prepare him for larger minutes.
Looking ahead, Sheppard’s outlook in 2025 depends on continued improvement as a shooter and defender. If he can maintain his shooting efficiency and grow into a reliable rotation wing, he will remain a key part of Indiana’s long-term plans as the Pacers continue to build around their young core.
