INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A new season is here, but the mission remains unchanged for the Indiana Pacers: win an NBA championship.
The Blue and Gold reunited Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Media Day. The roster looks different from the group that reached Game 7 of the NBA Finals in June. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is expected to miss the entire year as he recovers from Achilles surgery. Veteran center Myles Turner departed for a bigger contract in Milwaukee, leaving two starting spots up for grabs.
Even with those changes, the Pacers’ focus hasn’t shifted. That’s the message Haliburton continues to send to his teammates, even while sidelined.
“The standard is the standard. It doesn’t matter if I suit up or not,” Haliburton said. “We’ve created a culture here that matters — to me, to the fans, to everyone in the locker room. Something special is worth protecting, and my absence doesn’t change that.”
The Pacers aren’t conceding the season without their franchise star. If anything, Haliburton believes expectations remain just as high.
“Guys are still expected to show up, put in the work, and do all the same things,” he added. “I may not control the game on the court right now, but I can help protect the culture and maintain the standard.”
Reflecting on last year’s run, Haliburton admitted he hasn’t rewatched many of those memorable playoff games.
“It’s still tough for me because of how it ended,” he said. “But it’s something I’ll cherish forever. That was the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball, and we did some historic things. Now the goal is to create even more memories for Indiana fans — and for myself — that top what we did last year.”
The Pacers open the 2025-26 season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, Oct. 23, against the Oklahoma City Thunder — the same team that ended their title hopes.
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