Jarace Walker has given the Pacers something to think about early, and one NBA analyst already sees the forward as a breakout name for 2026-27.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report pointed to Walker as a player who could take a real step forward, and the preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves offered a glimpse of why. Walker finished with seven points, five rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes, going 3-of-6 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line.
That came after a full regular season in which Walker stayed on the floor for Indiana often. He played in 76 games last season and posted averages of 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 41.9% from the field, 37.4% from 3-point range and 74.9% at the line.
Since joining the Pacers in the 2023-24 season, Walker has built up a solid body of work. His career numbers entering this season sit at 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
For now, though, his role looks the same. Walker is expected to come off the bench again this season, with Rick Carlisle widely projected to open with Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac.
Haliburton’s return remains the bigger storyline in Indiana. The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2025 and came one game from winning the title, with the source noting they might have beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 had Halliburton not torn his Achilles. Indiana was leading when he got hurt in OKC.
That’s why this season is centered so heavily on Haliburton getting back to form. He put together a strong 2024-25 season before the injury, averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while earning All-NBA Third Team honors.
Across his Pacers career, Haliburton has averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in a Pacers uniform. He signed a five-year, $244 million extension with Indiana in July 2023.
His contract figures for the coming seasons are already set: $48,924,624 this season, $52,298,736 in 2027-28 and $55,672,848 in 2028-29, the final year of the deal.
The All-Star’s production has been steady in both the regular season and the playoffs, with career averages of 17.5 points and 8.8 assists in the regular season and 17.9 points and 8.4 assists in the postseason. Against Minnesota in the preseason opener, he had seven points on 3-of-8 shooting with six assists, one steal and two blocks.
Indiana could also be headed for another extension decision next offseason if Haliburton stays healthy and looks like himself again. Still, the expectation around the league is that he remains a Pacer for the long haul.
He was also listed at No. 19 on ESPN’s top 20 NBA players list after missing all of last season, sitting one spot ahead of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and one spot behind Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Already Has Pacers Fans Worried About One Big Thing
Tyrese Haliburtons night off in Atlanta was enough to stir some unease around the Pacers, even if the bigger picture still looks calm. He sat out Indianas preseason game against the Hawks because of a tweaked ankle, another reminder of how closely this teams fortunes are tied to its star guard after his recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered in the 2024-25 NBA Finals.
For a team built around Haliburtons pace, passing and shot-making, even a minor setback tends to draw attention. The ankle issue is being described as minor, but it arrives at a time when every preseason note about his health carries extra weight for Indiana, and it leaves fans watching closely as the Pacers try to get through October with their most important player staying on track. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Have The One Problem Fans Thought Was Fixed
The Pacers second preseason game offered a familiar sort of reminder, even in a tight 119-117 loss to the Hawks. Indiana came out with an early lead, then faded in the third quarter and never quite found its footing again, all while keeping the workload light and not playing anyone more than 20 minutes. For a team trying to use October to smooth out its edges, the result was less important than the way the game unfolded.
Even after bringing in Ivica Zubac to shore up the glass, the rebound battle still looked shaky against Atlanta. Indiana did plenty of things well enough to stay close, but the possession game told the louder story, and that is the part the Pacers cannot afford to ignore for long. Jarace Walker led Indiana with seven rebounds, a small bright spot in a loss that left one of last seasons lingering concerns still hanging around. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Just Became Indianas Biggest Question Again
Tyrese Haliburton is back in NBA action after missing the previous season with an Achilles tendon injury, and for the Pacers, that alone makes his return one of the most closely watched developments of the fall. Indiana has built plenty of its recent identity around Haliburtons playmaking and pace, which is why every step in his comeback carries extra weight for a team that still views him as a centerpiece. He is under a five-year extension he signed in 2023, and the franchise is still planning around him being a starter for the 2026-27 season.
What makes this next stretch so important is not just whether Haliburton can suit up again, but how quickly he can look like himself after such a serious injury. His first game back offered some encouraging signs, with his passing and defense both standing out, yet the bigger question for Indiana is what comes next as he settles back into live NBA rhythm. For a Pacers team that has invested so much in him, the answer will shape far more than one return appearance. [Read more 🡒]