Pacers Coach Says It's 'Very Unlikely' Tyrese Haliburton Plays Next Season

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle made his weekly appearance on a radio show, discussing the team's recent struggles and injuries. Specifically, he addressed the status of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who underwent surgery for his torn Achilles tendon.

“Obviously very unlikely that he’ll play at all next year,” Carlisle said. “I don’t think I’m speaking out of school as a non-medical person.”

Carlisle also shared an uplifting phone conversation with Haliburton after the surgery, where Haliburton sounded upbeat and positive.

The injury to Haliburton opens up opportunities for other Pacers players to take on larger roles. Carlisle mentioned that Andrew Nembhard will likely step into a different role, which he has proven capable of doing. He also noted that T.J. McConnell and Kevin Pritchard will have to lead the team from their position.

The attention now turns to the offseason for the Pacers, with Myles Turner becoming a free agent. Carlisle emphasized that re-signing Turner is a top priority for the franchise.

Carlisle also praised the team's decision to trade their first-round pick this year to get the rights back for their first-round pick in 2026, citing it as "pretty amazing foresight" given Haliburton's injury.