HoopsHype’s latest point guard rankings put Tyrese Haliburton at No. 7 for 2026-27, a striking spot for a player who hasn’t taken the floor since June 22, 2025 while working back from a torn Achilles.
The top of the list went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Luka Dončić, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey next in line. Stephen Curry landed sixth, just ahead of Haliburton. Andrew Nembhard was one of four players who barely missed the cut.
Even with the injury and the long layoff, Haliburton’s résumé still carries plenty of weight. Sacramento took him 12th in 2020 out of Iowa State before sending him to Indiana during his second season. He made his real leap in 2022-23, putting up 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists while shooting 49.0/40.0/87.1 and earning his first All-Star nod at 22.
The next season was even more decorated. Haliburton led the league with 10.9 assists per game, scored 20.1 points and earned his first All-NBA selection. In December, he strung together back-to-back games with at least 20 points and 20 assists, including a career-high 23 assists, something only one other Pacer has ever done once.
His role shifted a bit in 2024-25 alongside Pascal Siakam, but the production stayed strong. Over 73 games, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.2 assists while shooting 47.3% from the field and 38.8% from three. His 1.6 turnovers per game were a career low.
From 2020-21 through 2024-25, he piled up 2,947 assists, good for fourth in the NBA over that span behind only Trae Young, James Harden and Nikola Jokić.
Then came the postseason run that turned him into a bigger name nationally. Haliburton averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists in 23 games as Indiana reached the Finals. He hit the game-winner in Game 1 against Oklahoma City and picked up the nickname The Moment for his clutch work.
That run ended abruptly when he tore his right Achilles without contact in the first quarter of Game 7. Surgery came the next day, and the injury wiped out his 2025-26 season.
Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said in comments reported by Shams Charania of ESPN that the team would not rush the recovery.
"He will not play next year though," Pritchard said.
Haliburton’s rehab had gone smoothly until February, when he was diagnosed with facial shingles and his eye swelled almost shut. Medication caused weight gain. Before that setback, he was tracking like Jayson Tatum after a similar injury.
Haliburton has said he expects to come back strong.
"I definitely feel like I will be at the same level, if not better," Haliburton said.
He took another step on April 8, when he played five-on-five for the first time. By June, he had posted week 48 of his post-surgery program. And in July, he said twice on The Pat McAfee Show that he feels great.
For now, he remains one of the league’s highest-profile players on the sidelines - and still one of the best point guards in the sport, even if HoopsHype has him sitting just outside the top five.
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