The last time Tyrese Haliburton was on the court for the Indiana Pacers was on June 22, 2025. This was in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pacers lost that game, 103-91. Apart from losing the championship in the final game of the series, Indiana also lost their franchise player to a major injury.
Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon during the game. He underwent surgery the following day. Since then, the two-time All-Star has been working hard behind the scenes to get himself back in game shape.
Haliburton took a significant step toward this direction on Wednesday.
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It was a heartbreaking end to Haliburton’s incredible campaign. He led the Pacers all the way to the NBA Finals last season, marking the franchise’s first time back in the big dance since 2000.
Haliburton played 73 games in the regular season, averaging 18.6 points on 47.3% shooting, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.0 triples in 33.6 minutes per contest. He played 23 more games in the NBA playoffs. By the end, his Achilles gave out.
The good news for Haliburton is that he is closing in on his long-anticipated comeback. The 6-foot-5 guard announced on Wednesday that he took part in his first 5-on-5 scrimmage since June.
There is still no firm timetable on Haliburton’s return, but there’s no denying that this is a major milestone in his recovery. He will not return this season, but at this point, all signs point to Haliburton potentially being ready for the start of the 2026-27 campaign. He will use the whole offseason to prepare for this goal.
The Pacers have struggled badly this season without their star player. They are currently 18-61 and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference.
