Tyrese Haliburton waited 472 days to play in another NBA game. When that moment finally arrived, he couldn't have picked a more meaningful place to make his return. The Indiana Pacers star returned to action Wednesday night for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
But instead of making his comeback in Indianapolis, Haliburton returned to the court where his basketball career first began attracting national attention. The Pacers traveled to Ames, Iowa, to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason matchup at Hilton Coliseum, the home of Haliburton's former college team, Iowa State. Indiana defeated Minnesota 123-112, but for Haliburton and the thousands of fans in attendance, the night meant much more than an exhibition victory.
Before tipoff, Haliburton received a standing ovation from the Iowa State crowd as he addressed the fans who supported him throughout his college career. "It's been 472 days since I played a game of basketball," Haliburton told the crowd. "I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else but my second home." The two-time NBA All-Star also paid tribute to his college days by wearing a No. 22 Pacers jersey during pregame introductions, matching the number he wore at Iowa State.
He later changed into his familiar No. 0 before taking the court. And once the game tipped off, Haliburton wasted little time reminding the Iowa State faithful why they fell in love with his game in the first place. The veteran point guard scored Indiana's first points of the night and finished with seven points, six assists and two blocks in 16 minutes.
Haliburton played exclusively in the first half as the Pacers continued easing him back into competitive action. His numbers weren't particularly flashy, but after everything he endured during his recovery, simply being back on the floor represented a major milestone. The last time Haliburton appeared in an NBA game, Indiana was competing for a championship.
The Pacers had pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, giving themselves an opportunity to capture the franchise's first NBA title. But Haliburton's championship dreams came to a heartbreaking end when he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon early in the deciding game. The injury not only ended his night but also forced him to miss the entire 2025-26 season.
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