The Indiana Pacers, after falling one game short of their first-ever NBA title in a historic 2025 campaign, absolutely cratered, putting up a dismal 19 wins, the second-worst mark in the entire league. That brutal 2025-26 season had one massive, gut-wrenching reason: their superstar, Tyrese Haliburton, was sidelined for the whole thing after tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of those 2025 Finals. Now, after a year of hell, Haliburton is back, and the team is banking on his efforts paying off as they set their sights on another deep postseason run.
Haliburton’s Comeback: From Hell to the Hardwood
Let’s be real, what Haliburton went through to get back on the court sounds like a nightmare. Tearing an Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals? That’s just brutal. Then, during his year on the sidelines, he battled shingles, which led to weight gain, swelling, and even losing part of his eyebrow. Imagine all that on top of rehabbing one of the toughest injuries in sports. But this dude is a warrior. Indiana general manager Chase Buchanan isn’t just optimistic; he’s practically guaranteeing a seamless return. “I think he’s going to be one-hundred percent full go,” Buchanan told Sports Illustrated’s Alex Golden. He added, “We’re relying on our medical staff if there’s a day they need to scale back on him, but there’s gonna be no restrictions right away for him.” No restrictions! That’s huge! The two-time All-NBA guard has apparently gotten through the worst of it, and the Pacers are ready for him to lead the charge again.
A New Roster, Old Hopes in a Wide-Open East
The 2025-26 season was a horror show, no doubt. Plummeting to the bottom of the Eastern Conference without their talisman was tough to watch. The Pacers tried to improve the roster, even landing Ivica Zubac in a trade with the Clippers. But that move cost them, with their draft pick falling outside the top five, meaning Los Angeles snagged it. Still, the buzz around the team is real, and it’s all about Haliburton. Assistant general manager Ted Wu has seen the progress firsthand. “The progress that he’s made all summer, we really trusted in the work that he put in,” Wu said. “You can start seeing little by little his confidence picking up and building.” That’s the kind of talk you want to hear about your cornerstone player coming off a major injury. Haliburton spearheads an Indiana squad that’s looking to make some serious noise in what’s being called a wide-open Eastern Conference.
So, here we are, looking forward to the 2026-27 season. Haliburton is back, supposedly at 100 percent, and ready to roll from day one. After a year of pain and struggle, both for him and the team, the Pacers are focused. They’re aiming for a deep postseason run, and with their leader looking sharp in the offseason, the optimism is sky-high. Get ready, Eastern Conference, because Tyrese Haliburton is back and he’s not holding anything back.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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