Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during an NBA game.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton picked up a meaningful honor back home Thursday while continuing his comeback from the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Haliburton returned to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he was inducted into the Oshkosh North High School Hall of Fame inside the gym now known as Frank Schade Fieldhouse.
Oshkosh Declares “Tyrese Haliburton Day” for Pacers Star
The celebration came with a city-level salute, too: Oshkosh Mayor Matt Mugerauer declared Feb. 5, 2026, as “Tyrese Haliburton Day” as the 2018 graduate was honored in front of a packed gym,according to a report from Scott Agness.
Haliburton’s roots at Oshkosh North are already part of the school’s sports lore. He helped lead the program to a 2018 state championship and was named Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year that season, turning the building into a full-circle moment for one of the NBA’s most recognizable young guards.
During his speech, Haliburton delivered a message centered on perseverance and “dreaming big,” telling students he once had a guest speaker laugh when he said he wanted to reach the NBA. “It’s dream big… anything’s possible if you put in the right amount of work,” Haliburton said, via Sports 101 Daily.
What the Moment Says About Haliburton’s Mindset During Rehab
For the Pacers, the optics of Haliburton making the trip — and speaking publicly with confidence — matters because his rehab timeline remains one of the franchise’s biggest storylines following the Finals run.NBA.com previously reported the torn right Achilles, and the typical recovery window for the injury is often measured in months, not weeks.
That’s why Thursday read like more than just a hometown ceremony. It was also a reminder of what fuels Haliburton: he framed the speech around being told “no,” then sticking with the goal anyway, a pretty direct parallel to the grind of an Achilles comeback.
Haliburton has also stayed connected to Oshkosh North in recent months, including a highly publicized $3 million pledge toward upgrades for the school’s athletic facilities.
Key details to know
Date honored: Feb. 5, 2026 (“Tyrese Haliburton Day”)
Honor: Oshkosh North Hall of Fame induction
Injury context: torn right Achilles in Game 7 of 2025 NBA Finals
Prior hometown headline: $3 million pledge for school upgrades
Pacers’ Trade Activity Adds More Stakes to the Haliburton Timeline
The homecoming also landed on a busy day for Indiana’s front office.Multiple reports said the Pacers agreed to a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for center Ivica Zubac and forward/guard Kobe Brown in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and draft picks.
That type of move reads like a team continuing to build around Haliburton as its engine — even while he’s sidelined — and it adds another layer to the “what’s next” conversation once he’s cleared to return.
Indiana’s schedule even made the timing cleaner: Oshkosh is about 90 minutes from Milwaukee, where the Pacers were set to play Friday night, giving Haliburton a convenient window to be present for the ceremony.
With the Pacers retooling, and Haliburton rehabbing, the NBA better watch out for Indiana rebounding in 2026-27.