As Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton recovers from his Achilles injury, many fans are left concerned about what this could mean for his future.
"Will Haliburton ever return to form?" "Even if he does, how long will it take for it to happen?" "Have the Pacers already peaked in the Haliburton era?" These are all valid questions, but as the Wisconsin native and the Pacers have proven numerous times, they can never be counted out.
Pacers fans still have to wait close to another full year before they get to see their star guard on the court again. And while it is way too early to know for sure what's in store for him, he and the fans are getting a glimpse of hope by way of their new starting center, Isaiah Jackson.
Isaiah Jackson is looking good in his return from injury
As Pacers fans know, Jackson suffered an Achilles injury in just his fifth game of the 2024-25 NBA season. The Michigan native missed the rest of the season, and some wondered what his future in Indiana would look like.
At the time, Jackson was on an expiring contract and was likely going to hit restricted free agency. But whether the Pacers were willing to bring him back or not was unclear, especially since it seemed like Myles Turner was going to stick around for a long time.
Most of Jackson's appeal was his athleticism and energy. But suffering and then recovering from an Achilles could have negatively impacted his biggest strength. However, the Pacers committed to their guy, and it is paying off so far.
Jackson struggled a bit to begin the season, averaging 4.8 points on 45.5% shooting, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 turnovers, and 3.4 fouls in his first five games. However, he quickly turned things around and is now looking like a legitimate asset for the team.
In his following three games, the Kentucky alum averaged 13 points on 60.9% shooting, 8.3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. His foul troubles hadn't gotten much better (3.3 FPG during this stretch), but if this is his biggest concern just a year after tearing his Achilles, then things are looking good.
The stats are nice, and Jackson is finding his groove. But perhaps more importantly, he looks good on the court. He is still playing with that same energy he had before, and his athleticism hasn't gone anywhere. Plus, he looks much stronger on the court.
In October, Jackson spoke about wanting to use his weight and strength to his advantage. And so far, he has done exactly that by becoming a much better presence in the paint (h/t Dustin Dopirak of the IndyStar).
"I can use my weight," Jackson said. "I was always physical but I couldn't move guys how I wanted to. I couldn't play my brand of basketball. I'd get up to the offensive rim and I'd have to go straight up. Now I can bump people and move people out the way and I don't really affected by it. Strength wise, I can play defense a little better. I can hold my own."
It remains to be seen how Jackson will do for the rest of the season, but so far, the Pacers should be very pleased with what they're seeing out of him. He looks like he hasn't missed a beat, and he looks ready to be the Turner successor that some believe he can be.
Everybody's different, and it is also important to remember that Jackson's role in Indiana is much different than Haliburton's. However, given the uncertainty of Haliburton's immediate future as he recovers from his Achilles injury, he fans should find some peace in Jackson and his comeback.