Barring any setbacks, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton plans to be ready for the start of the new season, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Haliburton, who has been sidelined since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, updated his condition during a media availability for a Pacers Foundation charity softball game.
“I am telling you I’m going to be healthy right now,” he said. “I feel great. I’m doing everything. I’m playing pick-up pretty regularly at this point. I feel great. I will be ready for the season. If the season was today, I’d be ready.”
However, Haliburton admitted that feeling great isn’t the same as being ready to play an NBA game. He will have been out of action for nearly 16 months by the time the 2026/27 season tips off in October, and he understands that it will take time to adjust to the pace of play and get his conditioning back to its normal level.
“I think any NBA player would tell you that before that first media timeout, that wind is different,” Haliburton said. “It’s just impossible to prepare for. It doesn’t matter how much I prepare. That first stint is going to be exhausting for everybody. I know I’ll feel good going into the year. Game shape is what you’re able to explore in the preseason. Coach (Rick) Carlisle does a great job as the preseason goes along. Our minutes come closer to mirroring our game minutes. For me it’s just being in the best shape I can. I feel really good right now. I’m going to continue to do that. My goal is just to be ready go for camp.”
It’s the latest positive health update from Haliburton, who delivered a similar message last month during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. Indiana general manager Chad Buchanan said at his post-draft press conference in June that Haliburton was “on schedule” and “anxious to get back,” so he’s been trending in the right direction for some time.
The Pacers raised the excitement level surrounding Haliburton’s return when they posted a video of him executing a between-the-legs dunk during a workout in late July. He admitted missing several attempts before completing the one that wound up online, but said it’s a move that he hasn’t been able to do since he was 20. He also told reporters that he feels good about his playing speed, although it’s hard to accurately measure because his workouts have mostly been with player development interns.
“I love our interns and our player development team to death, but it’s not simulating playing against an NBA guy all the time,” Haliburton said. “I’ll be going to (Los Angeles) here pretty soon, and being able to play in runs with different NBA guys. I know us as a group will be getting together here pretty soon.”
In anticipation of Haliburton’s return, the Pacers announced Wednesday that their first preseason game will take place October 7 against Minnesota in Ames, Iowa, where he formerly starred at Iowa State.
