Tyrese Haliburton is getting ready for his long-awaited return to the Indiana Pacers next season, and he thinks playing next to Ivica Zubac could add an entirely new dimension to his game.
During an appearance on the Numbers on the Board podcast, Haliburton said that he is excited about building a pick-and-roll partnership with the Pacers’ new center.
“Playing with Ivica Zubac is going to be transformational for me because I never played with a screen setter like that.”
That is significant considering how much Haliburton’s offensive impact comes from creating advantages for his teammates. A two-time All-Star, he has established himself as one of the NBA’s best playmakers, and adding a physical screen setter like Zubac will just give him another weapon.
Zubac arrived in Indiana at last season’s trade deadline alongside Kobe Brown in a blockbuster deal that sent Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers.
His first season in Indiana was brief, as he struggled with injuries, appearing in just five games. He averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field.
But those numbers do not reflect the player that Zubac has been in the last few seasons.
For his career, he has averaged 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and shot 61.4 percent from the field. During his eight seasons with the Clippers, he put up 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 62.7% from the field.
His best season came during the 2024-25 season, when he averaged 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 62.8% from the field. His defensive impact also earned him a sixth-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year rankings and a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team.
Now the Pacers will fully see what he looks like next to a healthy Haliburton.
Indiana finished last season 19-63, placing 14th in the Eastern Conference after injuries devastated the roster. Haliburton missed the entire season while recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
On the same podcast, Haliburton spoke about how he felt the NBA disrespected him by scheduling his first game back against the New Orleans Pelicans away from home. He also revealed that the Kings told him to buy a house before he was shockingly traded to the Pacers in 2022.
He also said that he had hoped to get drafted by the Warriors and become Stephen Curry’s running mate, but that didn’t happen. Haliburton also provided an update on his recovery, saying he’s fully healthy and ready for next season.
His return alone should dramatically change the Pacers’ ceiling. Haliburton was the engine behind the Pacers’ incredible 2025 playoff run, where they reached the NBA Finals before he suffered the devastating Achilles injury.
And now, pairing with Zubac makes his comeback even more interesting.
A strong screen can create the fraction of space that Haliburton needs either to attack, pull up, or manipulate the defense with his passing. Zubac is also a legitimate target rolling towards the rim, forcing opposing big men into tough decisions.
The Pacers aren’t just getting their star point guard back. Haliburton believes he is returning to a type of center he has never had before.
After a brutal 19-win season, their partnership could be the biggest reason the Pacers expect next year to look completely different.
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