If all goes right, Tyrese Haliburton will suit up in the Indiana Pacers' next game, and that is something that should get fans hyped up (even if it's going to be roughly six months from now).
The two-time All-NBA guard missed all of this past season due to an Achilles tear, and the Pacers clearly missed having him on the court. Without him, they ended the season 19-63 (their worst record in franchise history) and were mostly a mess on both sides of the ball. (To be fair, the team also dealt with a plethora of other injuries during the season. Haliburton's absence was still easily the biggest factor in their down year, but it's not like it was the only thing.)
Fortunately for them, they should expect a healthy Haliburton back on the court next season as they look to re-enter the title picture and take the league by storm. However, it's also important to temper expectations a bit and come to terms with the fact that the Wisconsin native might not be at peak form right away.
It may take Tyrese Haliburton some time to get re-acclimated
Achilles injuries don't seem to mean what they used to mean in the NBA. In the past, an Achilles tear almost always led to an inevitable fall-off (Kobe Bryant, DeMarcus Cousins, Chauncey Billups), but that doesn't seem to be the case this time around.
Jayson Tatum, Dejounte Murray, and Isaiah Jackson (remember him, Pacers fans?) all came back from their Achilles injuries just as good, if not even better than before. (And though he has yet to suit up again, Damian Lillard did win this year's Three-Point Contest, which should count for something.) So for those reasons (and the fact that he's only 26 years old), there are reasons to be optimistic that Haliburton's return will follow the new trend.
However, it's also important to remember that, by the time the start of next season rolls around, it will have been nearly a year and a half since the last time Haliburton played in a meaningful NBA game. And especially in the Pacers' fast-paced offense, it might take him a bit to get back in rhythm.
Pacers fans should feel confident in Haliburton's ability to return from his injury and remain one of the best guards in the NBA. But it's also important to remember that, if it takes a little bit for him to get to that point, that's perfectly fine, too.
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