Indiana Pacers fans have latched onto Tyrese Haliburton ever since the team acquired him in 2022. Not only is he a fantastic player, but the Wisconsin native is a great leader who makes it easy to root for him due to his upbeat personality. Recently, Pacers wing Johnny Furphy made it clear that Haliburton is as good off the court as he is on the court, giving fans another reason to be proud to call him their franchise star (h/t SleeperPacers on X).
“He’s genuinely a great person. I haven't been around too many people that have his personality and have his passion, especially for the game of basketball... [I'm] pretty grateful that I can call him a teammate," Furphy said about Haliburton.
Haliburton has established himself as one of the best young guards in the NBA, and he is already one of the Pacers' greatest players, particularly in recent history. He is crucial to their success, and he is a big reason they are fresh off their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.
Unfortunately for Indiana, they will have to navigate their way through the next season without their star guard as he recovers from an Achilles injury. However, while it may look bleak at the moment, the Pacers still have a bright future and can re-establish themselves once Haliburton makes his return.
Tyrese Haliburton's attitude is important for Pacers fans to remember
Recently, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle spoke about Haliburton's attitude, which he says is one of the reasons he is so special. Even in the face of adversity and when times are tough, Haliburton is always keeping a positive mindset and understanding that better days are ahead. As the Pacers prepare for what most expect to be a gap year, this will be crucial for fans to remember.
After taking the best team in the league to seven games in the NBA Finals, it now seems highly unlikely Indiana will come close to that type of success next season.
In addition to Haliburton being out for the entire year, the Pacers also need to find a solution to their center problem now that Myles Turner is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. It is fair to assume that the team will go through their fair share of ups and downs next season, and it might be too difficult for them to go on another deep playoff run. However, there are still reasons to be excited about the team.
What the Pacers do have going for them is that they play in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Even if they are not at full strength, they have an opportunity to shock the basketball world (again) and make some noise next season. Furthermore, the Pacers still have an incredibly talented team, even with Haliburton on the shelf.
It is safe to assume the Pacers will miss Haliburton next season. The 25-year-old was their engine and was almost like the heartbeat of the team. However, even in his absence, there is a lot to like about the Pacers' outlook next season. Even beyond that, the team has a lot of long-term potential that should see them as contenders for the foreseeable future. And as long as Haliburton is around and leading the way, the Pacers should be in a great spot for a long time.