Tyrese Haliburton Declares Himself '100%' With No Restrictions For Pacers
Haliburton says he's the only source on his own health after a lost 2025-26. He posted 41.3 FPTS/G in 2024-25 — here's the draft-day math.
Full-go point guard sliding in drafts after a full year off — grab the discount.
- Averaged 18.6 pts, 9.2 ast in 2024-25 (73 games)
- Missed all of 2025-26 recovering from torn Achilles
- Pacers went 19-63 without him — worst in franchise history
- Our rank: #24 overall, #12 among guards
- Season opener Oct. 21 vs. New Orleans
Tyrese Haliburton wants everyone to stop asking. Entering Pacers training camp, the star guard flatly declared himself 100% healthy with zero restrictions for a season that opens Oct. 21 against New Orleans — his first game action since tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. When pressed on where that update came from, Haliburton pointed at himself: he's the source, and he says he's ready for the full year.
That's a meaningful line for anyone drafting this week. Haliburton sits at #24 overall in our model and #12 at guard, built off a 2024-25 line of 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.2 assists across 73 games — good for 41.3 fantasy points per game (actual, 2024-25). He missed the entire 2025-26 campaign recovering, and the Pacers cratered to a franchise-worst 19-63 in his absence.
The Backstory Nobody Wants To Repeat
Haliburton tried to gut through a calf strain last postseason before the Achilles gave out in the deciding Finals game, a loss that handed Oklahoma City the title and denied Indiana its first ring. On top of the rehab, he battled a shingles diagnosis along the way. He credits the work — a ton of it — for where he is now, and it shows in his conviction.
Head coach Rick Carlisle is a touch more measured. He agrees Haliburton has made a strong recovery and doesn't expect many limitations, but he wants the team to manage the pace correctly. Translation: don't be shocked by the occasional rest day early, even if the player himself is pushing the gas pedal.
The Roster Around Him
The supporting cast shifted while he was out. Indiana traded for center Ivica Zubac — #74 overall in our rankings and coming off 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds (31.9 FPTS/G, actual 2025-26) — and guard Kobe Brown, who's a deep-league dart at best (12.2 FPTS/G, actual 2025-26). Zubac is the real winner here: a full season of Haliburton lobs and drop-offs should juice his efficiency.
For fantasy managers, this is a buy-low window that may not last. A player who was a top-25 asset two years ago is sliding in drafts purely on Achilles fear, and both he and the front office are signaling green light. Take the discount, accept a few managed rest days early, and enjoy the assists once he's fully unleashed.
