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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - DECEMBER 06: Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the first half between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Iowa State Cyclones at Mackey Arena on December 06, 2025 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Indiana Pacers have been without Tyrese Haliburton for the entire season. He tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season. Indiana ruled him out for the entire year before the season started to keep any pressure off of him.
Haliburton has been making slow progress with his injury, but he still won’t return this year. He has been documenting his progress a bit on social media and YouTube. He has been able to dunk, make shots, and he has been doing a shooting routine before Pacers games this year.
Haliburton is guest-hosting The Mind the Game Podcast with Steve Nash overseas, covering some games. LeBron James sat down with him and asked about his progress from the injury at this point in the year.
GettyIndiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton sits on the sidelines. (Photo by China Wong/Getty Images)
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Now Scrimmaging Teammates
On the podcast, Haliburton revealed that he has now started scrimmaging his teammates in the next phase of his rehab.
“I’m approaching week 31 here, so almost going on eight months. I feel really good. My body feels really good. Just started playing 3-on-3 and 4-on-4, full-court. That’s been good to play with the interns and stuff.”
Haliburton would go on to say that he is also playing with some guys who haven’t gotten much playing time, as well as Bennedict Mathurin, as he was ramping up to come back from his injury. It seems that he is starting to get back into basketball shape, although much progress still needs to be made.
The Pacers will be very happy to get Haliburton back next season when he is fully recovered from the injury. That will allow them to return to title contention. Without him, the Pacers have the worst offense in the NBA. Part of that has been the rash of other injuries the team has suffered.
GettyIndiana Pacer guard Tyrese Haliburton dribbles the ball. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Pacers Will Be Active at the Trade Deadline With Eyes Towards Next Season
Indiana will likely be active at the trade deadline with eyes towards next season. Even with the team being as bad as they are right now, they will have its guys back next season. The one piece they still don’t have figured out is the center spot, which has been a revolving door.
The Pacers have been linked to a few different centers ahead of the deadline, but no deal has been made. They need to find someone to step into the role long-term now that Myles Turner is in Milwaukee. The options they have right now are not good enough.
Indiana has started five different centers this season. They have also started multiple games without a center at all. Adding that final piece to the starting lineup will be critical heading into the 2026-2027 season if the Pacers expect to be title contenders once again.
Adding a top-five pick will help them heading into next season, too. Right now, Indiana has the second-worst record in the NBA.