What Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton learned sitting on the bench: 'I'm glad that (expletive) is done'

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tyrese Haliburton intended from the beginning to be present for the Pacers throughout 2025-26 season even though he knew he would be missing all of it to rehabilitate from a torn right Achilles tendon. He said in his preseason news conference that he intended to attend almost every game and that he wanted to be at practice so that his teammates knew they had his support. But if he were left to his own devices, he acknowledges, there are some things he probably would have skipped.

But he admitted that he actually got more out of it because Pacers coach Rick Carlisle pushed him to be at team meetings and film sessions. He might not be able to apply any lessons learned there in games, but Carlisle still saw ways Haliburton could contribute. "I'm gonna be honest here, a lot of it had to do with Rick," Haliburton said in his end-of-season interview Monday.

"I was like, 'Man, these team meetings, do I have to be around? Can't I just wait to see you guys in the gym in practice? ' Rick was honestly on me a lot about being in meetings as much as I can.

Just for my voice, being able to talk through things. Honestly, having a veteran coach helped a lot, him seeing that. " Haliburton had to be apart from the team for nearly a month in February and March due to his shingles illness but he was present for almost every game prior to the All-Star break.