newsweek
Tyrese Haliburton stepped onto an NBA court on Wednesday for the first time in 472 days, and the setting could not have been more fitting. The Indiana Pacers point guard, who had been sidelined since tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, made his return at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa—the arena where he starred for Iowa State from 2018 to 2020.
The Pacers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason matchup, winning 123-112, but the final score was secondary to Haliburton's comeback. Before the game, he received a standing ovation from the Iowa State faithful as he addressed the crowd. "It's been 472 days since I played a game of basketball," Haliburton told the fans. "I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else but my second home."
Honoring his college roots, Haliburton wore a No. 22 Pacers jersey during pregame introductions—the same number he donned at Iowa State—before switching to his usual No. 0 for the game. Once the ball tipped off, he quickly made an impact, scoring Indiana's first points of the night. In 16 minutes of action, all in the first half, he finished with seven points, six assists, and two blocks.
Key Analysis
Haliburton's return marks a significant milestone after a grueling recovery. The injury occurred early in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, derailing Indiana's championship aspirations and forcing him to miss the entire 2025-26 season. Without him, the Pacers limped to a 19-63 record. Now, with their franchise point guard back, the team hopes to rebound. Haliburton acknowledged the mental and physical toll of his rehabilitation, saying, "I don't know if I could give you one word to really summarize it, but it's been a roller coaster."
The decision to hold the preseason game at Iowa State was no accident. According to the Indianapolis Star, Haliburton had pushed for the matchup, originally planned for 2025 but delayed by his injury. The timing allowed him to celebrate his return with the community that shaped him. He even joined in Iowa State traditions like the "Juicy Wiggle" celebration and sang the fight song. Later, he shared an emotional social media post, calling his recovery "16 months from hell" and thanking the Cyclone faithful.
While Haliburton's numbers were modest, his presence was the story. Aaron Nesmith led Indiana with 19 points, Jay Huff added 16, and Ben Sheppard chipped in 13. But for the Pacers, the biggest win was seeing their star back in uniform. Adjustments will come as he regains timing and chemistry, and a preseason game cannot replicate regular-season intensity. Still, Wednesday represented the culmination of over a year of hard work. For Haliburton, there was no better place to begin his next chapter than the court where his basketball dreams first took shape.
Originally reported by newsweek.