Haliburton returns to the court after 16 months: This experience has changed my perspective on basketball and life.

After a 16-month hiatus, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton returned to the court in an NBA preseason game, helping his team defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-112. Haliburton stated that this long recovery period changed his perspective on life and basketball.

In the 2024/25 NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton helped the Indiana Pacers win in a highly competitive environment. However, in the crucial seventh round, Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon, causing him to miss the entire 2025/26 season.

When asked about his feelings on returning to the court, 26-year-old Tyrese Haliburton shared, "There's really no way to predict what it will be like in advance. I think this is definitely the most exciting preseason I've ever been to, and probably the loudest preseason I've ever been to in my life. But I really enjoy it."

“I think I’m playing way too fast right now. This is my first game, so I have to slow myself down. I think my adrenaline must have been pumping really high. I’m excited to be back on the court, but I still have to slow down a bit.”

Tyrese Haliburton stated, "I don't think my game judgment and awareness are really that fast; it's more that I'm moving too fast. I need to slow down, and that will gradually improve over time. The only effective way to truly regain my feel for the game is through real matches, constantly playing against other players to gain experience."

"Sixteen months is a long time. I've never been away from basketball for so long, but I think I've gained a lot of new insights into myself during this time. This experience has changed my perspective on basketball and life. I think the biggest change is that I'm now more likely to step back and learn to appreciate the seemingly insignificant little things in front of me."

In addition, when talking about playing alongside teammate Zubac, Tyrese Haliburton said, "If I can slow down and give him enough time to make clean screens, I'll get open and be able to make the right decisions more easily. Over time, our teamwork will get better and better, and I'm very confident about that."

“I’m so glad I can finally watch the game footage again. I can observe and see what I did well and what I did poorly. I’m really looking forward to it and to getting back into the effort I need to pursue excellence. The feeling of finally being able to play again keeps coming back to my mind, and I’m truly grateful.”

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