Tyrese Haliburton can't believe it: NBA decision marks his long-awaited return
The Indiana Pacers star admits to being "surprised" to discover that his return after a serious injury won't have national broadcast coverage
Tyrese Haliburton already has a date to return to play an official NBA game after an entire season away from the courts due to a serious injury. However, the Indiana Pacers star admitted to being "surprised" to find out that his anticipated comeback will not be nationally broadcasted.
Haliburton will return to competition on October 21st when the Pacers visit the New Orleans Pelicans in the first game of the 2026-27 season for both teams. The game will be especially significant for the point guard, who hasn't played an official game since he suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during the seventh game of the 2025 NBA Finals.
The Indiana player missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from one of the most serious injuries a basketball player can suffer. Therefore, he expected his return to have a higher presence in the NBA national broadcasting schedule.
Haliburton doesn't understand the NBA's decision
During his appearance on the podcast "Numbers on the Board", Haliburton expressed his surprise upon learning that the game against the Pelicans would not be one of the nationally broadcasted matches.
"Name any other player of my caliber, regardless of my position in the rankings, if they ruptured their Achilles tendon and were out for 16 months, do you think their first game would be nationally televised?" Haliburton asked.
The Pacers' point guard went even further by questioning both the choice of New Orleans as the venue for his return and the absence of national broadcasting.
"Do you think that game would be played there if it wasn't televised nationally? Do you think it would be in New Orleans?"
Haliburton admitted that his initial reaction upon checking the schedule was truly one of surprise.
Key games on October 21st
The NBA has scheduled two games with national broadcasting on October 21st, the start of the regular season. None of them will feature Haliburton or the Pacers.
| Date | Match | National TV |
|---|---|---|
| October 21st | Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat | Yes |
| October 21st | Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Yes |
| October 21st | Indiana Pacers vs. New Orleans Pelicans | No |
The decision is particularly notable considering the context of Haliburton's return. The point guard is one of the main young stars of the league, and his comeback will be one of the major individual events at the beginning of the season.
The anticipated return of a star
Haliburton's injury occurred at the worst possible moment. He ruptured his Achilles tendon during the seventh game of the 2025 NBA Finals, forcing him into a very lengthy recovery.
As a result, he couldn't participate in the entire 2025-26 season. Now, about 16 months after that injury, he is set to make his official return in New Orleans.
The Pacers will subsequently debut in front of their home crowd on October 23rd when they host the Dallas Mavericks. By then, Haliburton will have already played his first official game post-injury.
His first nationally televised game will come a few days later - on October 28th, when Indiana faces the Philadelphia 76ers.
Therefore, while Haliburton won't have a national TV audience for his return, he won't have to wait long to appear again on one of the NBA's big stages.
Haliburton's return schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | National TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 21st | New Orleans Pelicans | Away | No |
| October 23rd | Dallas Mavericks | Home | Not indicated |
| October 28th | Philadelphia 76ers | Home | Yes |
Haliburton himself seems to have decided not to dwell too much on the situation. After so many months of rehab, what matters most to him will be getting back into competition and seeing how his body responds after an injury that forced him to miss an entire season.
His return will, in any case, be one of the major focal points of the early NBA days. The Pacers will regain their main playmaker just after a particularly tough period, and Haliburton will have the chance to prove he's ready to reclaim his place among the league's top stars.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tyrese Haliburton no se lo puede creer: la decisión de la NBA que marca su esperado regreso
