According to Indiana Pacers president Kevin Pritchard, rookie guard Kam Jones is dealing with a hamstring injury less than two months after suffering a hamstring tweak during the NBA combine. As it stands, it is unclear if it is an injury to the same hamstring (h/t Tony East of Forbes).
With Summer League action set to kick off on Thursday for Indiana, this will be a great opportunity for some of their young players to get some opportunities. However, it remains to be seen what Jones' availability will look like as he nurses the injury.
Following Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury, which will sideline him for all of next season, the Pacers are in for what most expect to be a gap year. Additionally, Haliburton's injury has led to many questions and concerns regarding their point guard situation and depth. While he is not expected to replicate the Wisconsin native's role or impact right away, there is a lot to like about Jones possibly getting a big opportunity right away. However, as Pacers fans know because of Haliburton, hamstring injuries can be brutal. It is far too early to panic, but the latest development regarding the Marquette product is cause for concern.
The Pacers might be in for a rough season without Tyrese Haliburton
After making it all the way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season, the Pacers are not likely to be legitimate title contenders in 2026. In addition to Haliburton being out for the season, Indiana will have to figure out what is next for their center situation following Myles Turner's shocking departure, which is going to be a tough task on its own. Though they are still real playoff contenders, especially in a wide-open Eastern Conference, it is tough to imagine the Pacers making another deep playoff run next season.
One of the biggest stories to follow during the Pacers' season is how they will perform without Haliburton. The Wisconsin native is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he was instrumental in their NBA Finals run. He is the engine of their offense and is their most important player. With Haliburton on the shelf, it will be incredibly difficult for the Pacers to replace him.
At this point, it is safe to assume the team will opt to slide Andrew Nembhard into the point guard role full-time, which could be a big opportunity for him. Additionally, it seems that T.J. McConnell will remain the primary backup. However, another major problem with Haliburton's injury is that the Pacers have less depth at point guard, meaning having a third reliable option will be crucial, and that is where Jones comes in.
There is a lot to like about Jones, and he has a lot of potential. However, if his hamstring injury proves to be a long-term issue, that will make Indiana's already bad situation even worse. Fortunately for them, there is still a long way to go before the start of next season, and things could improve. However, this will be something worth monitoring the rest of the way. Hopefully for Jones and the team, things will get better before they get worse.