The Indiana Pacers are gearing up for an exciting season with a major headline: Tyrese Haliburton is back.
After Haliburton suffered a torn achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, he has spent the past year recovering from the injury. There is question as to how quickly Haliburton can regain his form, according to Sports Illustrated, but he does not expect to face any restrictions upon his return, per ESPN.
Statistics by Land of Basketball illustrate that before his injury, Haliburton was the driving force of the Pacers’ offense. He recorded 18.6 points per game and also dished out 9.2 assists per game in the 2024-25 season, helping his team reach the NBA Finals. With the franchise cornerstone back in the lineup, the way the Pacers play changes drastically.
The offense will now have a point guard who can speed up the tempo, helping his teammates score. Pascal Siakam continues to be one of the top scorers, and he is joined by Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell, all members of the roster that brought the Pacers to the NBA Finals, per Land of Basketball.
The Pacers have also added some experience this offseason. Kelly Oubre Jr. has agreed to a two-year contract with the team, according to ESPN. Last season, he averaged 14.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
The Pacers also brought in veteran forward-center Larry Nance Jr. who will bring experience as another frontcourt option. Jarace Walker should also be on your radar, as he made the best use of the opportunities given to him last season and came up with career highs in points, rebounds, assists and 3-point shots, per ESPN. He averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in the 2025-26 season, and after the All-Star break, he upped those numbers to 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 22 games.
This season, the Pacers seem to be returning to the core of the team that reached the Finals as well as adding additional depth to the roster. The Pacers are likely to benefit from the fact that Haliburton does not need to play extended minutes due to teammates such as Siakam, Nembhard, Nesmith and McConnell having experience playing together at the top level.
For Pacers fans, it seems the waiting is over. At this point, the main question is no longer when Haliburton will be back, but how the Pacers will play with their star point guard on the court.
