The Indiana Pacers are gearing up for what could be a rough 2025-26 NBA season with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined due to injury. Haliburton had a strong start to Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder this past spring but unfortunately went down with a torn Achilles later in the first half, and Indiana lost as a result.
Still, Haliburton has kept his spirits high this summer, including making appearances at WWE and engaging with fans on social media.
On Thursday, Haliburton proposed a tweak to the NBA rule book to help passing maestros such as himself continue to pump up their staggering assist numbers.
“Today’s random thought @NBA, when we counting a lob off the backboard as an assist?” wondered Haliburton on X, formerly Twitter.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young then shared his take on the debate.
“Fun fact.. I stopped throwing them with they stopped counting them,” he posted on X.
Assists off the backboard are some of the most entertaining plays in the sport of basketball, with flashy point guards like Haliburton often choosing to throw them on fast break opportunities to give their high flying teammates, such as Pacers forward Obi Toppin, a chance to show off their athleticism.
Tough times for the Pacers
It's hard to recall a team going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows as quickly as the Indiana Pacers did this summer. Just a couple of months ago, Indiana got off to a strong start to Game 7 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City, playing for an NBA championship after what had been a fever dream of a playoff run throughout the spring.
However, Haliburton's injury immediately hung a major cloud over the rest of the game and the ensuing offseason. The Pacers have since lost Myles Turner in free agency and are bracing for a 2025-26 season in which they could come crashing back down to Earth in Haliburton's absence.
While Indiana still likely has enough talent on its roster to compete for a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference, it's still been a brutal turn of events for a team that was on the cusp of its first championship in franchise history.
The Pacers will kick off their 2025-26 season on October 23 in a rematch against the Thunder.
