Tyrese Haliburton Is a 'Full Go' After His Achilles Tear, and the League Is Not Ready For It

Okay, Seattle sports fam, you gotta see this. If you thought the Indiana Pacers' run to the Eastern Conference title last season was impressive, wait until you check out Tyrese Haliburton's recent update. Remember that absolute gut-punch of a Game 7 loss in the 2025 Finals against Oklahoma City? Yeah, well, that's firmly in the rearview, because Haliburton, the dude who tore his right Achilles in the opening minutes of that game, just dropped some footage that's got the entire Association buzzing. The man expects to be a "full go" for their summer minicamp, and after what we just saw, that's not just talk, it's a warning shot!

"Week 48" Just Changed Everything

Haliburton's X account is where the magic happened. He posted a video with just two words: "Week 48." What followed was pure fire. We're talking about footage of him looking incredibly sharp during a workout at the Pacers' practice facility. He's running, cutting, dribbling, shooting, even hitting those step-back jumpers. This is all just shy of one year since that devastating injury, and honestly, you wouldn't know it. The video also shows he's been putting in serious time in the weight room and, yeah, he's still got that smile. Posted on Tuesday, five months before the 2026-27 season tips off, the vibes are off the charts, even with Drake's "Janice STFU" as the soundtrack, dropping lyrics like "They tried to kill me once, but darling, you just resurrected me." Talk about motivational buy-in from your star! This isn't just a recovery, this is a resurrection.

Can Carlisle Get This Team Clicking at Full Strength?

It's not just Haliburton's return that's got Pacers fans feeling that "cruel optimism" turning into pure hype. Last season, coach Rick Carlisle had to dial up nearly 50 starting lineups because of health woes. Pascal Siakam (62 starts) and Andrew Nembhard (57 starts) were basically the only iron men on the squad. Remember center Ivica Zubac? He came over in a February trade from the Clippers and played just six games before a rib injury ended his season. But now, with Haliburton gearing up and Zubac potentially ready to roll, this team could finally have the center they've been missing since Myles Turner left last summer. Former Pacers assistant Ronald Nored, now the head coach at Butler, told the Indianapolis Star that Carlisle "coached one way several years ago, and he was a Hall of Fame coach. And he coaches a completely different way now," praising his adjustments and fresh ideas. If Carlisle can get Haliburton working in with a healthy Zubac, and the whole team gels early, watch out. Pacers fans waited 25 years between Finals appearances at the start of the millennium. After last year's heartbreaking Game 7, it truly feels like they might only have to wait one more. Next season could be a wild ride, and if Haliburton is truly back to form, the entire league better take notice.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.