Indiana Pacers fans haven't seen Tyrese Haliburton in a game since he sustained a devastating Achilles injury in Game 7 of last year's NBA finals. And while he will not suit up for the team until next season, the Wisconsin native is inching closer to his return, even announcing on Wednesday that he took part in his first five-on-five since the injury.
"Played 5 on 5 today for first time since June🙏🏽🙏🏽," Haliburton wrote on X.
While it won't matter for this season specifically, it's still great news that Pacers fans should be thrilled about. It's further confirmation that the team's star guard is one step closer to coming back. And in turn, it means that Indiana is also one step closer to re-entering the title picture and reminding the basketball world how dominant it can be.
Tyrese Haliburton remains a crucial part of the Pacers' success
Not that it was ever a question before, but this season has been even more proof that Haliburton is Indiana's offensive engine and the most important player on the roster.
With only a few games left on the schedule, the Pacers are 18-61. They own the second-worst record in the NBA, rank 26th in net rating (-8.3), have struggled to find an identity on either side of the ball all season, and they even set a franchise record losing streak twice.
Obviously, Haliburton's absence isn't the only reason for Indiana's struggles. Myles Turner left in free agency. Pretty much every key player missed a chunk of time due to injuries. And not many of their young guys stepped up the way the team had hoped. (There's also the tanking allegations, but let's not get into that.) But it was very evident that he's the glue that keeps the team together, and the Pacers are going to need him in order to be title contenders again.
Haliburton has been fantastic since Indiana traded for him in 2022. During his time with the team, he led them to their first NBA finals appearance since 2000 (and maybe would have won it all had he not suffered the injury), two consecutive conference finals appearances in 2024 and 2025, and even the championship round of the inaugural NBA Cup (then known as the In-Season Tournament.)
Additionally, he has enjoyed a lot of individual success, earning All-NBA and All-Star honors twice each, winning an Olympic Gold medal in 2024, and leading the league in assists once (10.9 APG in the 2023-24 season).
The 26-year-old has established himself as a legitimate star in the NBA. And once he gets back on the court, he and the Pacers will be ready to finish what they started last year.