To say that the 2025-26 NBA season was painful to watch for Indiana Pacers fans would be a massive understatement. After reaching the NBA Finals the year before, the team was only able to muster up a 19-63 record.
While the lost season was difficult to watch, there are a lot of reasons for fans to be excited about the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. On the outside looking in, the team's rotation looks stacked.
Tyrese Haliburton will be making his return to the court on opening night against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 21. He will then make his return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Dallas Mavericks on October 23.
After missing all of last season due to the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, fans are ecstatic to see him back on the court.
With that being said, there are some question marks about just how good he will be in his first season back from the Achilles injury.
Let's take a look at a few early bold predictions for Haliburton this season.
Tyrese Haliburton Will Average at Least 18 Points and Eight Assists
First up, the production Haliburton will bring to the floor will feel very familiar. We are predicting that the star point guard will score at least 18 points and dish out eight assists per game.
Back in the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game. Fans should not expect to see a major fall off from his previous production.
His Three-Point Shooting Percentage Will Rise to a Career High
Through his first five NBA seasons, Haliburton's career-high from three-point range is 41.6 percent. He has had a lot of time to shoot the basketball without being able to do anything else. That will result in a career-high three-point percentage.
Haliburton will shot 42 percent from the three-point line this season. That will make him an even more dangerous threat, especially with big man Ivica Zubac now in town to set screens and be a legitimate post-up threat.
The Pacers Are Eastern Conference Finals Bound Again
We aren't going to go as far as to predict an NBA Finals appearance. But, Indiana is going to make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Already, the national media has been underrating the Pacers. That is exactly where they like to be.
Following a brutal all-around season a year ago, Indiana basketball is back. Haliburton's return to the court, along with the additions of Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr., will spur the Pacers back to winning.
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