The Indiana Pacers are increasingly confident that Tyrese Haliburton will be available for the start of the 2026-27 NBA season after his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon continued to progress well, according to Chris Haynes.
“The Indiana Pacers are extremely optimistic that Haliburton will be available for Day 1 of the season opener for the 2026-27 season,” Haynes reported on Saturday, July 11.
Haliburton has spent the last year recovering after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The injury forced him to miss the entire 2025-26 season as he focused on rehabilitation.
The All-Star guard recently provided a positive update on his recovery while attending his ProCamps basketball camp, explaining that he has returned to unrestricted basketball activities and feels healthy again after dealing with both his Achilles rehabilitation and a case of shingles.
“I feel great. My body feels great. I’m able to do everything. I feel like I’m operating like I’m a healthy NBA player for the first time in a long time,” Haliburton said.
Haliburton added that being able to participate at his camp without additional medical concerns from the Pacers was an important milestone after a difficult year away from the court.
“The fact that I’m able to come here without having to answer questions from anybody in our organization about my health, that I’m just able to jump in and do some things with the kids, that means the world to me,” he said.
Before the injury, Haliburton established himself as one of the NBA’s premier playmakers. In 2024-25, he averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 73 games while shooting 47.3% from the field, 38.8% from three-point range and 85.1% from the free-throw line.
Across his five NBA seasons, Haliburton has averaged 17.5 points, 8.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 39.2% from three-point range. He has earned two All-Star selections and was named to the 2023-24 All-NBA Third Team.
His return would provide a major boost for a Pacers team that struggled without him in 2025-26. Indiana finished 19-63, ranking 14th in the Eastern Conference after losing its primary offensive creator for the season.
Pascal Siakam carried the offensive load for the Pacers, averaging 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 62 games, while Andrew Nembhard averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 assists. However, Indiana lacked Haliburton’s elite transition playmaking and ability to create efficient offense late in games.
The Pacers also reshaped the roster around their core during the season. Indiana acquired center Ivica Zubac and forward Kobe Brown from the Los Angeles Clippers in February, sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and multiple draft picks in the deal.
Zubac appeared in five games for Indiana during the 2025-26 season, averaging 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, while Brown averaged 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 27 appearances after joining the team.
The Pacers added veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency to improve their scoring depth and perimeter athleticism, while also preparing for important contract decisions involving Haliburton, Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker.
Haliburton’s expected return gives Indiana a chance to evaluate its revamped roster with its franchise point guard back in control of the offense. The Pacers are expected to have him fully cleared when training camp begins this fall.
