Tyrese Haliburton anticipated his long-awaited return to the court docket to obtain a bit of extra consideration.
The Indiana Pacers star admitted he was “shocked” after discovering his first regular-season recreation in 16 months won’t be nationally televised.
Haliburton missed your entire 2025-26 season whereas recovering from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered throughout Recreation 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. His comeback is now set for Oct. 21, when Indiana opens its season on the highway in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Contemplating his standing across the league and the importance of his return, Haliburton questioned why the NBA didn’t give the sport a nationwide tv slot.
“Title every other individual that you just examine to my stage of a basketball participant, wherever you may have me ranked, in the event that they tore their Achilles and missed 16 months, do you assume that [first game back] could be on nationwide TV?” Haliburton stated throughout an look on the “Numbers on the Board” podcast. “Do you assume that recreation could be at dwelling if not on nationwide tv? Do you assume that recreation could be at New Orleans?
Haliburton stated his preliminary response got here as quickly as he noticed Indiana’s schedule.
“After I noticed the schedule I used to be like, ‘Oh, wow.’ I used to be shocked to see that,” he added. “However we transfer on.”
As an alternative, the NBA’s two nationally televised video games on opening night time will characteristic the Minnesota Timberwolves visiting the Miami Warmth and the Golden State Warriors taking up the Los Angeles Lakers.
Haliburton should wait one other week earlier than making his first nationally televised look of the season.
After starting the 12 months in New Orleans, the Pacers will return to Indiana for his or her dwelling opener in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 23.
Their first nationwide tv recreation will then come on Oct. 28, when Indiana hosts the Philadelphia 76ers.
For Haliburton, the dearth of nationwide protection provides one other wrinkle to what’s going to already be one of many largest nights of his profession.
After spending a complete season working his approach again from a devastating harm suffered on the NBA’s largest stage, his comeback will as a substitute start away from the nationwide highlight.
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