Tyrese Haliburton on Pacers FanJam Return: 'My Body Felt Good'

Tyrese Haliburton played with the Indiana Pacers starters at FanJam on Sunday, his first time on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse floor in front of fans since he tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

His White team lost. The Blue team, built mostly from second-unit players, won the 12-minute scrimmage 39-28.

Haliburton missed his first two shots and finished with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting, Fox59 reported. BasketNews credited him with four assists. Ivica Zubac had 12 points and six rebounds for White, which went 1-of-11 from 3-point range, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. Agness called it the shortest FanJam game he could remember.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 points for Blue.

The last game Haliburton played came June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. He went down early in Game 7, had surgery the next day, and missed all of the 2025-26 season. The Thunder won that night and took the title.

Indiana went 19-63 without him. Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said last month that the organization owns that record.

"It's fun," Haliburton said. "It's fun to come — so glad to be back. I know a lot of people are excited for me to be back. And I think there's a lot of excitement throughout the whole city for our team and our group. So just happy to be a part of that and look forward to a good year."

Sunday's loss left Haliburton 0-4 in the preseason intrasquad game, according to Fox59.

"I felt good," Haliburton explained. "I felt good. Still defeated. I've never won a FanJam game. But this is the first time I've left FanJam and felt — my body's felt good. So I'll take it. It was a good day."

In 2024-25, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists across 73 games. He made the All-NBA Third Team that season. He is a two-time All-Star, and he signed a five-year, $244 million extension with Indiana in July 2023.

Indiana acquired Zubac from the LA Clippers at the Feb. 5 trade deadline, sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick. Kobe Brown came to Indiana in the same deal.

The 2026 first-rounder landed at No. 5. The Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler with it.

Zubac appeared in only five games for the Pacers after the trade. A week of camp is the extent of his time on the floor with Haliburton.

"Obviously, such a big guy, poses a lot of different threats offensively and defensively, rebounding the basketball, outlets, all those things," Haliburton said. "So we're just starting our connection, but I'm really enjoying playing alongside him for the first week or whatever, and I think I'm just looking forward to playing against other teams here soon."

Training camp opened Sept. 29 at the Ascension St. Vincent Center. Photos from the first days showed T.J. McConnell, Oubre, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, and Jay Huff working together as the second unit, according to Pacers On SI.

Haliburton gives that group credit for its work in drills.

"Our second group is — yeah, I feel like we have good size in our second group," Haliburton said. "They can guard multiple positions. They cause a different threat on the other side because they're so big. And I like that group a lot. And they've had some really good days at camp."

"But when we play five-on-five full court, ask them how that goes," Haliburton continued. "But they've been doing good in drill work and little mini games, a little 12-minute game. But trust me, that's how that's been going."

Indiana opens the preseason Wednesday, Oct. 7, against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, where Haliburton played two seasons for Iowa State. Tip-off is 7 p.m. ET.

The regular season starts Oct. 21 at New Orleans. The home opener follows two nights later, Oct. 23, against the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. ET.