Tyrese Haliburton ‘Shocked’ by Season Opener on Pacers Schedule
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Tyrese Haliburton watched his Indiana Pacers struggle without him last season, as he continued to rehabilitate and recover from the brutal torn right Achilles tendon injury he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
With Pacers fans anticipating the return of the multi-time All-Star and NBA Playoffs hero to the hardwood, the league released the complete regular-season schedule on Thursday. However, Haliburton admitted he was "shocked" to see the Pacers' season-opening matchup on the schedule.
"Name any other person that you compare to my level of a basketball player, wherever you have me ranked. If they tore their Achilles and missed 16 months, do you think that game would be on national television?" Haliburton asked while on the "Numbers on the Board" podcast.
"Do you think that that game would be at New Orleans?" he also asked, referring to the Pacers playing an away game against the Pelicans to start their regular season.
"When I saw our schedule, I was like, 'Oh wow.' Shoutout to Trey Murphy; love all my boys. Love New Orleans, but I was shocked to see that," he admitted. "But we move on."
Most likely, the season-opening game wasn't meant as disrespect to Haliburton, but instead was probably due to the league having a stronger interest in spotlighting other matchups that night. Both the Pacers and Pelicans finished with losing records last season and weren't involved in the NBA Playoffs.
In his healthy season before that horrific injury struck, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. The two-time All-Star is hoping for a strong comeback, although he's entering a much more challenging Eastern Conference.
The Philadelphia 76ers became especially strong with the additions of LeBron James via his free-agency signing and Jaylen Brown through Philly's trade with the Boston Celtics. The Miami Heat also improved their roster, adding Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Since the 76ers immediately became must-watch basketball with their roster upgrade, it's put them heavily onto the TV schedule. The Pacers host James and the 76ers on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with ESPN televising their matchup.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks, a team that Haliburton famously helped eliminate from the playoffs in 2025, won the championship during his absence this year. The Pacers will get their first attempt at the Knicks, potentially with Haliburton back in the lineup, when they host them on Friday, Nov. 13 in Indiana.
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