While fans were clearly excited to see Tyrese Haliburton’s recovery process, it is also significant that he is letting fans into his recovery process this deeply. As much as every Indiana Pacers fan would like to see Haliburton running the floor, supporting his process is how we cheer him on this season.
Haliburton gave his life to basketball, and that deserves our support
Somewhere, a character from a Ted Lasso spinoff is saying with a smile, “Basketball is life!” That seems to be the truth for so many of these players, but it is also true that Haliburton’s life is wrapped up in basketball. When Haliburton fell to the floor a few quarters away from a championship, we all feared the worst, and those fears came to fruition. Indiana's superstar guard was done for the game and done for a season. Sometimes in our fandom, we tend to forget that our favorite player is taking that physical recovery into every area of life. Transportation is different. Sleep is different. Socializing is different. Even Haliburton’s joy at wearing a second shoe again shows just how different life is during recovery.
Now we know that he is missing basketball, but that significance of supporting him as fans in this season cannot be overlooked. The Pacers didn’t sign Tyrese Haliburton’s basketball talent, but the whole person. In a season like this, he needs support more than ever. When the season gets tough and every fan in Indy is aggravated at how slow the offense is or that it lacks potency, we need to remember that our team’s leader gave every ounce he had for this team. Life is more than basketball – that’s why this tweet was still a Puma ad and Puma hyped it up in their own tweet. Tyrese Haliburton, the player and person, is on the mend, and that deserves our support.
Haliburton will be ready to run it back with an improved cast
While the results of this season are up in the air and are yet to be seen, one thing that will happen over the year is that players on this team will grow. The minimal movement in free agency and the guard-heavy draft point to another gamble on internal development. Kevin Pritchard has made this bet before, and it paid off. So, gap year or not, this upcoming season, players will develop, roles will be understood, and everything will point toward an on-court reunion with “The Moment” himself, Tyrese Haliburton.