Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Will Strike Anvil for Colts Opener

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton will strike the anvil for the Indianapolis Colts' opening game against the Baltimore Ravens. Haliburton had this honor once before, in a game in which the Colts upset the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17.

Haliburton will look to bring his magic again so Indianapolis can get off to a 1-0 start in the 2026 season.

While the Colts look to start off strong, basketball season is just around the corner, and Haliburton will return to the floor for the Pacers.

He missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which he sustained in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With Haliburton returning, Indiana could become contenders in the Eastern Conference once again. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 1.4 steals, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three.

Haliburton was clutch throughout the Pacers' playoff run, leading them to the team's first NBA Finals berth. If he hadn't gone down early in Game 7, they could've won an NBA Championship for the first time.

With his return, Indiana will be in the mix to win the Eastern Conference, but will have to compete with the defending champion New York Knicks, the improved Miami Heat with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Philadelphia 76ers with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

The Toronto Raptors could also be a factor if they complete the trade to land Kawhi Leonard.

While the East has gotten tougher, Haliburton and the Pacers will be firmly in the mix. They have a ton of depth on the roster and added Kelly Oubre this offseason, who should be a solid addition. 

Haliburton is great at elevating his teammates with his playmaking, as he's one of the best passers in the NBA. With his return, the Pacers' offense is poised to play at a high level and return to being elite in transition.

Indiana has kept much of their core from the Finals run together, with the notable change at center, as they acquired Ivica Zubac in a trade after Myles Turner left in free agency. 

Haliburton and the Pacers have the talent on the roster to make a deep playoff run in the 2026-27 season.