Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton spoke out and put the NBA on notice with his latest update.
As the 2026-27 NBA season continues to draw closer, the excitement surrounding the Indiana Pacers is growing quickly. Most of that excitement has to do with the impending return of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton from his torn Achilles.
Quite a few updates have been shared about Haliburton's status throughout the offseason. Another update has been shared, this time from the man himself.
Haliburton spoke out during a media availability on Wednesday, August 12, and offered a very clear update on his health. He is ready to play.
"If the season was today, I'd be ready," Haliburton said.
While plenty of reports have come out from NBA insiders and reporters that Haliburton would be good to go for opening night, hearing it from Haliburton carries more weight.
Now, the question that needs to be answered is just how good he will be in his return to the court. Some aren't expecting the same version of Haliburton from before the injury. Others think he'll pick up where he left off and get back to being a bonafide star.
On the outside looking in, the Pacers look like a potential NBA Finals contender in the Eastern Conference. If Haliburton is able to revert back to his pre-injury form, Indiana will be a difficult team to beat.
Entering the 2026-27 season, the Pacers are going to look a little different from the last time Haliburton was on the court. Kevin Pritchard and the front office pulled off an aggressive trade last season to acquire star center Ivica Zubac. They also signed Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency.
Those moves seem to have improved the team's contention chances.
All of those hopes and dreams of another NBA Finals run will hinge on Haliburton. Thankfully, he seems to be back at full health well before the start of the season.
During the 2024-25 season, Haliburton put together strong numbers. He played in 73 games, averaging 18.6 points per game to go along with 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Haliburton also shot 47.3 percent from the floor and 38.8 percent from three-point range.
If he can get back to producing those numbers, the Pacers will have a legitimate shot at making another deep playoff run.
Only time will tell what the season has in store for Indiana and Haliburton, but this is all good news. Fans can now rest easy that Haliburton will indeed be ready to play in the season opener.
