Tyrese Haliburton Returns to Pacers Lineup for Season Opener
The Indiana Pacers are extremely optimistic that Tyrese Haliburton will be available for the season opener, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
What happened?
Tyrese Haliburton, one of the top players in the NBA, missed all of last season recovering from his Achilles tendon tear. However, the Pacers are confident that he will be back on the court for the 2026-27 season opener.
Why it matters for Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign for the Pacers, averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He also made the All-NBA Third Team. The talented floor general will make $48,924,624 next season, $52,298,736 in 2027-28, and $55,672,848 in 2028-29, the final year of his deal.
What comes next?
Haliburton's dad, John, expects his son's team to be "right at the top" again. "I expect them right at the top," John said. "I'm not going to lie to you. If you know basketball and you've been paying attention, you know that all of our rookies and second-year players got a chance to really go out there and grow through this run. They got a chance to experience the game at the highest level, slow it down, and understand exactly what it takes to win."
Tyrese Haliburton's Career Averages
Haliburton has career averages of 17.5 points and 8.8 assists per game in the regular season and 17.9 points and 8.4 assists per game in the playoffs. He led the Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals.
The Pacers' Expectations
The Pacers are optimistic about Haliburton's return, and his dad is confident that the team will be successful. "Now, by the time Tyrese gets back on the floor, these young guys have already been through the fire," John said. "So you tell me—what is going to stop them from going to the top? New York won the championship this year, but they won it because Indiana wasn't fully standing in their way at the very end. Next year, with Tyrese back, Indiana will be standing right there."
Tyrese Haliburton's Contract
Haliburton signed a five-year, $244 million extension with the Pacers in July 2023. The talented floor general will make $48,924,624 next season, $52,298,736 in 2027-28, and $55,672,848 in 2028-29, the final year of his deal.
category: player_focus