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Tyrese Haliburton Calls Out the NBA

Originally posted on TWSN | By Marissa Myers | Last updated Aug 15, 2026 6:49 PM ET

Ahead of the 2026 NBA season, one of the biggest storylines to monitor will be the return of Indiana Pacers' star player Tyrese Haliburton from the Achilles injury that forced him to miss all of 2025.

While you would typically expect a player of Haliburton's caliber to get more spotlight attention on his return, that hasn't happened. That has caught the attention of Haliburton himself.

Tyrese Haliburton Responds to Disrespect From NBA

Instead of having a true spotlight game, the Pacers are set to open their 2026 NBA season on October 21 with a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, and to make matters worse, it isn't televised either.

Recently, when appearing on the Numbers on the Board podcast, Haliburton spoke on this situation by saying, "You think that game would be at home, if not on national television… When I saw the schedule, I was like, ‘Oh wow!’ Shoutout Trey Murphy II, love my boy, Trey. Love New Orleans. But I was shocked to see that.”

Tyrese Haliburton said he was shocked his return game from his achilles injury is against the Pelicans in New Orleans

“You think that game would be at home, if not on national television… When I saw the schedule, I was like, ‘Oh wow!’ Shoutout Trey Murphy II, love my boy, Trey.… pic.twitter.com/qNgOU1Q8HO
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 15, 2026

The statement from Haliburton is valid. Before he tore his Achilles, he had established himself as one of the top players in the NBA, averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game. Haliburton had become a true key player who even produced numerous clutch moments.

The NBA could've let Indiana open at home for Pacers fans to celebrate Haliburton's return, but instead they will go on the road to face a team that finished 26-56 last season. For Haliburton, this should end up being a motivational factor for him ahead of the season to realize he still has a lot to prove.

This article first appeared on TWSN and was syndicated with permission.

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