Tyrese Haliburton Ready for NBA Return After Injury

Tyrese Haliburton is eager to make his comeback after sitting out last season due to a torn right Achilles tendon, sustained during the 2025 NBA Finals. The Indiana Pacers All-Star assured reporters of his full recovery and readiness to play in the upcoming season.

“I saw a report that said, ‘sources telling me Tyrese will be healthy.’ I am the source, so I can tell you: I am healthy right now,” Haliburton said humorously during a media session. He added, “I feel great. I’m doing everything. I’m playing pickup pretty regularly at this point, so I feel great. I will be ready for the season. If the season was today, I’d be ready, so yeah, can’t come fast enough.”

This season, Haliburton will reunite with his team for practices, now with new veteran teammates. The Pacers recently signed free-agent wing Kelly Oubre Jr. to a two-year, $16.5 million contract and brought in veteran forward Larry Nance Jr. Haliburton expressed enthusiasm about their addition, stating, “Kelly’s a guy I got to know from working with Drew Hanlan in the summer, so we spent a couple of workouts together, lifted together, all those things. He’s a guy who’s definitely been annoying for me to go against throughout my career, so I’m excited for him to be on our side.”

Haliburton believes Oubre will significantly enhance the team defensively. He noted the league’s and conference’s focus on wing players and mentioned how Oubre’s skills will be crucial against teams like the Philadelphia 76ers. As for Nance, Haliburton said his experience would bolster their frontcourt depth.

The Pacers also improved their roster by drafting Purdue’s Braden Smith after a trade with the Chicago Bulls for the No. 38 pick.

Haliburton famously helped eliminate the New York Knicks from the 2025 NBA Playoffs before his injury during the NBA Finals. With the Knicks winning the championship in his absence the following year, Haliburton is motivated to return and lead the Pacers in the Eastern Conference. Competing against teams with revamped lineups like the 76ers and the Miami Heat will be challenging, but Haliburton is known for influencing games significantly.