Tyrese Haliburton injury update: NBA insider reveals Team USA kept Pacers guard's health status under wraps during Olympics
Tyrese Haliburton had a minimal role in Team USA’s gold-medal-winning campaign in the Paris Olympics. The Indiana Pacers star suited up in six of the nine games under coach Steve Kerr and averaged 8.8 minutes per contest. As the 12th man on the team, he hardly had anything to show in his stats.
Brian Windhorst, who covered the Americans in the said event, reported that the team’s stacked roster wasn’t the only reason for Haliburton’s limited play. Here’s what he had to say about the All-Star guard’s situation:
“Tyrese Haliburton was slowed in the Olympics by a minor leg injury -- Team USA didn't announce it, but he had an MRI, sources said.”
The most minutes Haliburton played in the Olympics was 10 when the gold-medal winners battled Puerto Rico in the group stage. He sat against Serbia and in the finals versus France, the host team.
Windhorst did not specify how Haliburton got injured or how long he has been dealing with it.
Tyrese Haliburton almost didn’t do anything in Team USA’s win so he hilariously took a shot at himself on social media. He posted this on X, formerly Twitter, after he and his teammates received the gold medal:
“When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A”
Although he spent most of his time on the bench, the two-time All-Star remained engaged. He was always on his feet cheering for his teammates and his energy seemed contagious. Haliburton did not sulk when he could not get minutes.
Tyrese Haliburton should be ready for the Pacers’ training camp
The Indiana Pacers begin training camp early in October. Tyrese Haliburton’s minor leg injury should be healed by then. He should be ready to lead his team’s preparation for the 2024-25 season which starts on Oct. 22.
Haliburton had a limited role for Team USA but is unquestionably the Pacers’ franchise cornerstone. Behind him, Indiana reached the Eastern Conference finals where they lost to the eventual champion Boston Celtics. If he stays healthy, the Pacers will have a good chance of making the playoffs again next season.
Indiana’s roster is largely the same one that challenged the Celtics for the conference championship. It remains to be seen if they can have another deep postseason run as several teams from the East have retooled. Andrew Nembhard had a strong playoff campaign, so his emergence should be something the Pacers will count on.
How far Indiana can go, however, will depend on Tyrese Haliburton. He gets a well-deserved break after the Olympics and should be raring to start training camp in October.