Tyrese Haliburton return date on Pacers fans' minds as NBA season starts

The start of a new NBA season feels a lot of different ways, depending on the team you're a fan of.

For fans of the Indiana Pacers, it's bittersweet.

Their team made it to the NBA Finals and pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink. But then Tyrese Haliburton went down in the final game of the season with a torn Achilles.

Not only did it mean a runner-up finish. It means a season without their superstar floor general.

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Is Tyrese Haliburton out for this season?

Tyrese Haliburton has indeed already been ruled out for the entire 2025-26 NBA season as he recovers from his NBA Finals torn Achilles.

He recently shared with Kevin O'Connor what he's working with during his recovery.

"I'm trying to do more stationary passing and stuff with my left hand and really trying to get better at making reads with my left," Haliburton said. "I can do a little bit of ball handling which, I hate ball handling drills. I don't have the greatest handle... I think there's many different areas where I can get better... As time goes on, I can do a little bit more."

The Pacers have Andrew Nembhard to lead their backcourt while Haliburton is out.

When T.J. McConnell comes back from his own injury, he'll be in the point guard mix, too.

There won't be any Haliburton, though.

At the peak of his powers, Hali is forced to sit out. It's a bummer for the Pacers, that's for sure.

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