Many Indiana Pacers fans remember the team's disappointing 10-15 start to the 2024-25 season. At the time, it felt like nothing could go right for the team. They were losing games they shouldn't have, they were dealing with injuries, and they just looked like a shell of the team that made it to the conference finals a season before.
However, fans may not realize exactly how bad things got during that time behind the scenes, particularly regarding star Tyrese Haliburton.
In the fifth episode of Netflix' Starting 5 Season 2, the Wisconsin native revealed exactly how low he felt during that stretch, even suggesting he thought he would be traded or have to step away.
"I honestly don't think I ever felt as negative about myself as I did in November and December," Haliburton said. "Yeah, I was definitely in a dark time. Not everything was clicking for me. ... For me, winning trumps all. When you're in a position like mine, where you're the highest-paid guy on the team, you're really only evaluated by, can you impact your team enough to win games? If we don't win, it's gonna be the next man up, and I'll be out of here."
"I can be traded at any point. ... It got to the point where I was like, 'Should I kind of step away for a little bit just for our group? Would that be more beneficial?'"
Resilience was key for the Pacers in 2024-25
During the Pacers' slow start to last season, many things did not go well for the team.
Through its first 25 games, Indiana's 113.9 offensive rating was the 13th-worst in the NBA, according to StatMuse. Additionally, its 118.1 defensive rating was the sixth-worst in the league across that same stretch. Plus, they were tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, and they also seemed to be trending downwards as they lost four of their first five games in December.
At the time, the Pacers also lost Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman for the year, both due to Achilles injuries. Aaron Nesmith was in the midst of what eventually became a two-and-a-half-month absence due to an ankle injury, and Andrew Nembhard had already missed time due to a knee injury.
However, not only were things bad on the court, but Indiana's slow start to last season made a negative impact off it as well. And perhaps nobody took it worse than Haliburton did.
In his first 25 games of the season, the Iowa State alum averaged 17.5 points, 8.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and two turnovers. Additionally, he shot just 42% from the field and 33.6% from deep. This also includes a disastrous 0-point, 0-for-8 shooting night against the New York Knicks in their second game of the season.
Haliburton's start to the year was so uncharacteristic that it eventually led to him failing to make the All-Star team for the first time as a Pacer.
Ultimately, Haliburton and the Pacers figured it out, and they went on to have one of their most successful season in franchise history. The team turned it around in a major way, ending the season 50-32, and securing the No. 4 seed. Additionally, they made it all the way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals and nearly brought home their first-ever NBA championship.
Plus, as for Haliburton himself, he ended up earning All-NBA Third team honors for the second consecutive season and had one of the most memorable playoff runs in recent history.
It wasn't pretty, but Indiana's slow start was not for nothing as it allowed the team to do what it does best: exceed expectations when its back is up against the wall.
In typical Pacers fashion, the team remained resilient and persevered, even when it seemed impossible. Their season didn't end with a trophy, but there are reasons to have confidence in Indiana's long-term future. And, despite what he may have thought in November and December 2024, that will include Haliburton, who is going to remind the basketball world exactly what he can do once he returns from his Achilles injury.