Haliburton against the NBA schedule: “I was shocked”
Tyrese Haliburton will return to action after 16 months, but Pacers-Pelicans will not be televised nationally. A decision that surprised Indiana’s star
The return of Tyrese Haliburton will inevitably be one of the most anticipated events at the start of the new NBA season. Apparently, though, it wasn’t enough to earn a spot on national television.
The Indiana Pacers star admitted he was pretty surprised to discover that his first official game after a serious Achilles injury would not be televised nationally.
Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. After roughly 16 months away from the court, his return is set for Oct. 21, when Indiana opens the season on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Haliburton: “When I saw the schedule, I was shocked”
Appearing on the Numbers on the Board podcast, Haliburton made no secret of his surprise at the NBA’s decision:
Take any other player you consider to be on my level, I don’t care where you rank me. If they tore their Achilles and missed 16 months, do you really think their first game wouldn’t be on national TV? And if it wasn’t, do you think they’d be playing on the road? Do you think that game would be in New Orleans?
Tyrese Haliburton
Clearly, it was a decision the Pacers point guard did not expect.
When I saw the schedule, I was like, “Oh, wow.” I was shocked. But we move on
Tyrese Haliburton
On Oct. 21, the NBA instead selected two other games for its national TV schedule: Minnesota Timberwolves-Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Lakers.
To see Haliburton under the national spotlight, fans will have to wait a few more days. After opening the season in New Orleans, the Pacers will play their first home game on Oct. 23 against the Dallas Mavericks, while their first nationally televised game will come on Oct. 28 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
A decision Haliburton has clearly taken personally. And after more than a year away from the court, it could provide extra motivation to remind the NBA just how much it has missed him.