Tyrese Haliburton is getting closer to making his long-awaited return to the NBA after spending the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a devastating Achilles injury.
The Indiana Pacers star has now provided an extremely encouraging update on his condition, revealing that he has already returned to regular pickup basketball and believes he could play if the new season started today.
“I feel great. I’m doing everything. Playing pickup pretty regularly at this point. I feel great. I will be ready for the season. If the season was today, I’d be ready. So, can’t come fast enough.”
Haliburton’s recovery represents one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Pacers ahead of the upcoming campaign.
"I am the source: I can tell you I am healthy right now… I feel great. I will be ready for the season if the season was today."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 12, 2026
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton spoke to reporters about the status of his health.
(via @TonyREast)pic.twitter.com/J3Q7UQV7U5
Haliburton missed entire season after NBA Finals injury
Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The injury occurred early in the decisive game, bringing a heartbreaking end to what had been an extraordinary playoff run for the 26-year-old guard.
Haliburton had led the Pacers to the NBA Finals during the 2024-25 campaign, putting Indiana within one victory of the franchise’s first championship before Oklahoma City ultimately won the series.
The Achilles injury forced Haliburton to miss the entire following season.
He has also dealt with a battle with shingles during his recovery, making his path back to the court even more challenging.
“That first stint is going to be exhausting”
Although Haliburton feels ready physically, he understands that returning to an NBA game will be different from playing pickup basketball.
The Pacers guard admitted that the intensity of his first competitive minutes will be difficult to replicate during offseason workouts.
“Before that first media timeout, that wind is just different. It’s impossible to prepare for.”
Haliburton expects the preseason to play an important role in rebuilding his game conditioning before the regular season begins.
“Doesn’t matter how much I prepare, that first stint is going to be exhausting for everybody.”
He also praised Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle for gradually increasing players’ workloads during preseason games.
“Coach Carlisle does a great job as the preseason goes along, our minutes getting closer and closer to mirroring our game minutes as time goes on.”
For Haliburton, the priority is now simply to arrive at training camp in the best possible physical condition.
Haliburton preparing with NBA players
The Pacers star is already increasing the intensity of his workouts and plans to travel to Los Angeles soon to work out alongside other NBA players.
He also revealed that Indiana’s players will soon begin getting together ahead of the new season.
One player who has already helped Haliburton prepare for his return is Andrew Nembhard, his Pacers teammate and one of the team’s best perimeter defenders.
“That’s an elite defender who can help me simulate what my matchups typically look like, so that’s helped as well.”
Working against Nembhard should allow Haliburton to experience more realistic defensive pressure as he continues rebuilding his rhythm.
Pacers hoping Haliburton can return to his best
Haliburton’s comeback will be crucial for Indiana after the team spent the entire 2025-26 season without its leading star.
Before the injury, Haliburton had established himself as one of the NBA’s premier playmakers and helped transform the Pacers into a legitimate championship contender.
His return should dramatically change Indiana’s ceiling, particularly after the painful way the previous season ended.
The Pacers will nevertheless have to manage his workload carefully following such a serious injury.
For now, however, Haliburton’s latest comments offer plenty of encouragement. With regular pickup games already part of his routine, the two-time All-Star appears increasingly confident that he will be ready when the new NBA season finally arrives.
