Haliburton is "ready to play" as the Pacers look to bounce back from a one-year hiatus.

The initial milestone: injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals of 2025

The story began in 2025 when the Indiana Pacers reached their best chance to play for a first title.

In Game 7 of the 2007 NBA Finals, he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon that completely changed his team's planning and opened up a long recovery period.

After the injury: more than a year off and the 19-63 campaign

From the break-up, Haliburton was out of action for over a year.

The break also coincided with the franchise's worst-ever performance, as the Pacers finished 2025-26 with a 19-63 campaign, the worst record in team history.

For the fans, the scenario was doubly difficult: the loss of main point guard and falling cast level for an entire cycle.

Press Day: Haliburton says he is healthy,100% and unrestricted

On Monday, during the Pacers' press day, Haliburton stated that he is healthy,[4] and without any restriction to return to court.

point guard also said there is no other source for this information than himself, reinforcing that he feels ready for the entire season.

This statement marks the turning point of the narrative: the recovery phase comes into focus, and the player is treated as fit to resume their gaming routine.

Coach Rick Carlisle: recovery strong, pace still being monitored

Coach Rick Carlisle took a more conservative tone, stating that decisions about the use of Haliburton will be made in conjunction with the coaching staff, paying attention to return pace.

At the same time, Carlisle said not to expect too many limitations for point guard , if any.

The coach's speech maintains two simultaneous pieces of information: confidence in the athlete's progress and control over the process.

The team's background: Zubac and the search for re-nomination

Haliburton's return comes on a roster that underwent an important change last season. The Pacers' main move was a trade made in the deadline, which brought center to the team.

With Haliburton back in peak physical condition, the Pacers are looking to pick up where they left off.

What does that mean for Pacers fans?

Haliburton was the Pacers' primary creativity and offensive pace benchmark, and having him available again without restrictions increases the possibility of the team competing at another level.

Still, use in early games tends to be adjusted to the pace of recovery as indicated by the coach.

Summary of the current stage

The episode has come out of the injury phase, gone through the season 2025-26 without Haliburton and the campaign 19-63, and now reached the return stage.

== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man