Tyrese Haliburton Reacts To LeBron James Joining East: ‘Competition Is Fun’

LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in July on a two-year minimum contract with a player option. It is his first move to the Eastern Conference since 2018. James and the 76ers visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Oct. 28.

Tyrese Haliburton led a team at the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic at Victory Field on Monday. Philadelphia had traded Paul George and four picks to Boston for Jaylen Brown. The New York Knicks won the Finals against San Antonio and return all major contributors except Mitchell Robinson.

"It's exciting. Competition is fun," Haliburton said. "Excited for LeBron to be in the East. Excited for the reigning champs to be in the East. There's a lot of excitement in our conference, and that makes it special. That makes it more fun. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it."

New York's title was its first since 1973. The Knicks trailed Atlanta 2-1 in the first round, then won 13 straight games. The sweep of Philadelphia ended with a 30-point closeout, and the conference finals ended with a 37-point win in Cleveland. Jalen Brunson scored 45 in Game 5 against San Antonio. He was named Finals MVP.

Miami acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee along with Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. Kawhi Leonard's trade to Toronto is pending the league's investigation into possible salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers. Detroit won 60 games and the East's top seed in 2025-26. The Pistons swapped out Tobias Harris for John Collins. Cleveland added Peyton Watson. ESPN's forecast predicts the Knicks and Pistons at 53-29, Cleveland at 51-31, Philadelphia at 50-32, and Boston at 48-34.

Indiana finished 19-63 without him. The franchise had never won fewer. Two seasons ago the Indiana Pacers reached Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City.

The Pacers traded Bennedict Mathurin and two first-round picks to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac at the February deadline. Zubac played five games before a season-ending injury. He averaged 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds with Los Angeles last season and made the All-Defensive Second Team in 2024-25. Kelly Oubre Jr. signed this offseason. Pascal Siakam averaged 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists and made his fourth All-Star team.

Oklahoma City and Indiana were tied 16-16 in the opening quarter of Game 7 on June 22, 2025, when Haliburton's right Achilles gave out with nobody near him. Surgery followed a day later. A facial shingles diagnosis on Feb. 22 cost him time over the winter. On Aug. 12, he told reporters he would be ready if the season started that day.

Haliburton made 73 appearances in his last full season and averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. He shot 38.8% from 3-point range and made the All-NBA Third Team. The two-time All-Star will make $48,924,624 this season on the five-year, $244 million extension he signed in July 2023.