The Indiana Pacers got a major dose of optimism in Las Vegas, and it all centers on Tyrese Haliburton.
During the team’s Summer League game, league insider Chris Haynes reported that Indiana is feeling very good about Haliburton’s recovery. “The Indiana Pacers are extremely optimistic that Haliburton will be available for Day 1 of the season opener for the 2026-27 season,” Haynes shared.
That’s a significant update for a player whose 2025-26 season was wiped out by the injury he suffered in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year’s Finals. Haliburton tore his ACL in that game, a blow that kept Indiana from winning its first Larry O'Brien Trophy.
His recovery wasn’t limited to the ACL, either. Haliburton also dealt with shingles while working his way back from the knee injury.
Without him, the Pacers never found their footing. Indiana finished 19-63, a sharp drop for a team that had been built around Haliburton’s pace and playmaking. The rhythm Rick Carlisle wanted simply wasn’t there, and no one on the roster stepped in to fully replace what Haliburton brought.
"The Indiana Pacers are extremely optimistic that Haliburton will be available for Day 1 of the season opener for the 2026-27 season."
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 11, 2026
- @ChrisBHaynes on Tyrese Haliburton pic.twitter.com/zsqj9eNJ2Y
The absence was felt all season long, especially for the group that had just come off a run to the top of the East. Now, though, there’s a real sense that Haliburton may not miss another full year.
Indiana has also added to the mix through the NBA Draft, bringing in local product Braden Smith from Purdue. Smith gives the Pacers another facilitator, and he’s already showing his game in Vegas while Haliburton continues pushing toward a return.
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