INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers posted videos and photos of Tyrese Haliburton this week that suggested the All-Star point guard has made good progress this summer rehabbing from last year’s torn Achilles tendon and the bout with shingles he dealt with at the beginning of this season.
At his news conference Thursday, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said that Haliburton has indeed shown strong signs since the season’s end.
“Recovery is on schedule,” Buchanan said. “He’s in here every morning working out with our group. He looks good. Obviously, the shingles, getting through that was a hurdle for him to overcome that he didn’t anticipate would be part of the recovery. But he looks good. His mood, his energy, his charisma is there. He’s anxious to get back.”
However, Buchanan said Haliburton and the team are trying to approach the situation with patience as they head toward his return at the start of the 2026-27 season. He missed all of 2025-26 after tearing the Achilles just over a year ago in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. So after that long absence, he’ll have to remind himself that he can’t be expected to immediately return to his 2025 playoff form.
“You’re away from the game for as long as he’ll be away once he steps back on the court, it’s not going to be instantly back to Tyrese,” Buchanan said. “I think we all have to have some grace with him. He knows that’s going to be part of his recovery that, ‘I’m not going to be myself instantly.’ You may see some ups and downs with him as the season starts.”
Still, he is driven, Buchanan said, especially after seeing the Knicks win the NBA title after the Pacers eliminated them in the previous two seasons.
“This experience has made him hungry,” Buchanan said. “Not being in the playoffs and seeing teams have success that we’ve had success against has probably motivated him and the rest of our group. I think they’re anxious to get back on the floor together.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Chad Buchanan: Pacers need grace, patience with Tyrese Haliburton in Achilles recovery
Reporting by Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
