A year and a half ago, on the biggest stage of them all, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were one game shy of winning an NBA championship. In that game, something happened that neither team could control.
Haliburton went down with an Achilles injury after playing through a calf strain.
“Haliburton had not been able to finish the game alongside them after going down with a right lower leg injury in the first quarter and needing to be helped off the court. His father, John Haliburton, told ESPN's Lisa Salters during the broadcast that it's an Achilles injury. The seriousness of the injury was apparent from the moment the Pacers' star guard -- who had been playing through a strained right calf,” ESPN’s Jamal Collier wrote.
On Wednesday night, he returned for the first time after having to sit out all of last season. For Haliburton, it was a chance to shake off the rust.
“Haliburton looked understandably rusty from a shooting standpoint, going just 1-of-3 from three-point range, in his first game action since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City. It’s probably going to take him some time to return to form after missing all of last season. This was his first live action in a game setting in nearly 500 days,” NBC Sports’ George Bisell wrote.
The game was played at Iowa State, where he went to college. After the game, he sent a heartfelt message to the people of Iowa State.
“At a loss for words trying to describe tonight. 16 months from hell, but Ames, Iowa was the perfect place to get back to it. I’m a Loyal Son, Forever True. Love y’all forever Iowa State U,” Haliburton posted.
This is just a great player showing complete gratitude to the place where it all started for him. Iowa State was a vital place for Haliburton, and being able to revitalize his career there in a way on Wednesday made it even more special.
The point guard will look to get back to being a really good player after missing an entire year, one that was full of so much rehabilitation. Haliburton will look to guide the Pacers back to the NBA Finals, as he was one win short the last time around. Hopefully, if they make it back, he gets to finish it out.
