Tyrese Haliburton on his surgeon's prediction for 100% return and playing with Ivica Zubac
· Yahoo Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton's heard it over and over again, more times than he can count, people saying how important it is to give grace to players coming back from injury.
"The competitor in me is like, 'I don't need grace. I'll be fine right away,'" the Pacers star told IndyStar on Monday in a one-on-one interview after visiting kidney transplant recipients at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. "But we'll see when it comes. I feel great right now, to be honest, and I think I'll be ready when the season starts. So, I have no excuses prepared."
Visit mchezo.life for more information.
Haliburton is weeks away from making his Indiana Pacers return after suffering an Achilles injury at the start of Game 7 of the NBA Finals in 2025.
IndyStar talked with Haliburton's surgeon Dr. Martin O'Malley to get his prediction on the guy he calls not only a model patient but "just the kindest human anyone could ever meet."
O'Malley didn't balk. He predicts a 100% return for Haliburton.
"I mean, we are completely on the same page. If he didn't believe that, I would be a little worried," Haliburton said, laughing. "Dr. O'Malley, I very much share that sentiment that I will, it'll be 100%."
Ivica Zubac vs Myles Turner: 'It's going to be an adjustment'
The Pacers made a move in February, hoping to fill their Myles Turner void by acquiring 7-foot, 248-pound Ivica Zubac. The last time Haliburton took the court, Turner was his 5.
Here's what Haliburton said about playing with Zubac, who's earned the nickname "Zublocka," versus being on court with Turner.
"It's obviously a different dynamic. Zu is much more of an inside player. You know, I think they pose different things. Myles is a better floor spacer, but what Zu can do so well is dominate the paint," he said. "And so that's gonna be a little different from what Indy is accustomed to having at the 5 position. And so it's going to be an adjustment for me and for our guys, but something we all look forward to."
Haliburton called Zubac "a great human being," who he's been spending time with.
"We have a lot of conversations about basketball, of course, but off the court as well," he said, "which I think is the most important because the closer me and him are, I think the better our team will be."
Zubac, 29, will enter his 11th season in the NBA, with 493 career starts in 627 games with averages of 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.
In acquiring Zubac, the "Pacers get one of the league's strongest centers," wrote IndyStar Pacers Insider Dustin Dopirak. He averaged 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and shot 61.3% from the floor last season. He ranked fifth in the NBA in rebounding.
The Pacers lost Turner in free agency to the Bucks in 2025.
NBA Finals in the future? 'Last year, we didn't meet the standard'
That injury in the NBA Finals Game 7, Haliburton pounding his fist to the court, then being helped off the court. The Pacers losing to Oklahoma City and Haliburton ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season.
That's in the past, he says. When asked if he sees the Pacers landing back in the finals any time soon, Haliburton doesn't hesitate before saying, "For sure. That's definitely the plan for us, you know? I think if that wasn't everybody's expectation or goal, I wouldn't want them here.
"I think all of us know that is the goal for us to win a championship, but, you know, to go to have a year like we did last year, we know that we didn't meet the standard that we need to, and we didn't live up to that standard," Haliburton said. "So there's got to be some correction, and there will be this year, and that's what training camp is for. And we've all been busting our tails all summer.
"It'll be a fun year for us, and it's not gonna be easy, but, you know, it's gonna be a lot of fun."
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Hunsinger on X @danahunsinger33. Reach her via email [email protected]. Get more Pacers coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
.oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrese Haliburton on his surgeon's prediction for 100% return and playing with Ivica Zubac
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.