Tyrese Haliburton Talks Injury Rehab, Pacers' Doubters, More, 'Our Goal Is to Win a Championship'

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton possesses a "different perspective on life now" after missing an entire NBA season with a torn Achilles.

The veteran guard told ESPN's Jamal Collier there was one particular moment after undergoing surgery when he felt the full weight of the long road ahead. He was on vacation and had trouble moving around on his own power.

"Just having to come to terms with going from being on top of the world to the complete opposite of that in an instance," he said.

"It's such a crazy thing to say because it's a basketball injury that no matter what ... there's a time put on it. You know you're going to be good in that amount of time. We have the best doctors in the world, the best therapists, all those things. You know you're going to be good, but it's a scary thing."

Haliburton's injury obviously casts a big shadow over the upcoming season.

Achilles tears were once a career-altering injury, but Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant and two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart both came back to maintain their previous levels on the court. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum looked good in his limited run last year.

Haliburton's game may not have suffered that much.

Still, the Pacers are generally considered a contender that could struggle to replicate their run to the 2025 NBA Finals. They sit 16th in Bleacher Report's power rankings.

For Haliburton, there isn't any question about the team's expectations.

"I have my own internal expectations," he told Collier. "But our goal is to win a championship. That has never wavered."

The two-time All-Star added that he's trying to ignore the external forecasts.

"I don't look too much into it," he said. "Our whole team can relate to that. We've all felt that way one way or another."

Haliburton played 16 minutes in Indiana's preseason opener, a 123-112 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He finished with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting along with six assists.

Timberwolves-Pacers Highlights

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It was an encouraging showing given how long the dynamic guard had been sidelined.

There's bound to be some rust once the regular season tips off. The preseason only reveals so much when the on-court intensity isn't the same compared to games that matter. Indy might be a little sluggish out of the gate.

It's hard to see how the Pacers are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but they've already proven how much they thrive in an underdog role.