Apr 10, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA;Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Apr 10, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA;Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
It’s been over a full year since we’ve last seen Tyrese Haliburton in an NBA game. A lot has changed in that time, and the Indiana Pacers are in a state of uncertainty going into the new season. The good news? Haliburton is fully healthy and ready to play, as he recently confirmed.
In a chat with reporters on Wednesday, the Pacers star reflected on his recovery and whether his body is truly ready to handle the grind of a long, 82-game season. Not only did he reaffirm his health, but he revealed that he could play right now if the season were active.
“I saw a report that was like, ‘Sources tell me Tyrese will be healthy.’ I am the source, and I can tell you I am healthy right now. I feel great, and I’m doing everything, playing pickup pretty regularly at this point,” Haliburton said, via Tony East. “I feel great. I will be ready for the season. If the season were today, I would be ready. It can’t come fast enough.”
Achilles tears are often described as one of the worst sports injuries an athlete can experience. It limits mobility in the lower body, making it impossible for players to walk, run, or jump without significant pain and discomfort. It often requires a 12-to-16-month recovery time, which involves heavy rehab and long hours in the gym.
For Haliburton, the process began in the 2025 Finals, when he went down in Game 7 of the series. It was a heartbreaking moment for Tyrese, who struggled for weeks following the loss. But now, on the cusp of his return, Haliburton is determined to help his team recapture its contender status. His return alone will make a massive impact, but so too will the arrival of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr., the team’s newest summer additions.
“I’m really excited. Kelly is a guy I got to know from working with Jrue Hanlen in the summer, so we had a few workouts together,” said Haliburton. “He’s a guy who’s been annoying to go against in my career, so I’m excited for him to be on our side. He adds a lot to us on both sides of the ball, but specifically defensively, being able to take on different challenges. Obviously, our league and our conference are very wing-heavy — it was before with Boston, but now, especially with Philadelphia, you’re going to need multiple guys to throw at all these good players, and I think Kelly fits right in with that group, and I think that helps really well. Then, bringing in Larry, who has been in our league for a long time, I think he’s going to be able to help with our frontcourt depth. They’re both great additions, and it’s going to be fun.”
The Eastern Conference has only gotten better with teams like the Cavaliers, Knicks, and 76ers making huge improvements. How the Pacers stack up isn’t yet clear, but they still have the talent to make some noise with guys like Ivica Zubac, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin.
Ultimately, only time will tell how Haliburton plays this upcoming season, but nobody should underestimate the Pacers. We’ve seen what they can do when Hali is healthy, and he sounds confident in their chances of success in 2027. If he can even play close to the level he was at in 2024-25 (18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game), it could shift the league’s balance of power in ways nobody expected.