Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is not exactly thrilled with how the NBA rolled out the red carpet for his comeback. After missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles, the two-time All-Star expected a grand return to the spotlight. Instead, he got a Tuesday night in New Orleans against the Pelicans — and apparently, that's not good enough.
During a recent appearance on the Numbers on the Board podcast, Haliburton didn't hold back his frustration with the league's schedule makers. He pointed out that his season opener isn't even on national TV, and he thinks that's a slap in the face for someone of his caliber.
“I looked at the schedule and thought, wow. Nothing personal, my guy Trey Murphy III is there, I love New Orleans, but I was kind of shocked,” Haliburton said, via PFSN. “Think of a player you could compare to my level of basketball, someone who’s torn their Achilles tendon and been out for 16 months… that wouldn’t be nationally televised, right?”
It's a fair question, but NBA fans didn't exactly rally behind the Pacers star. Social media lit up with criticism, with many calling Haliburton entitled and out of touch.
“This fool really think he’s a superstar in the league,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Nobody making it appointment television to see Haliburton & the Indiana Pacers.” And a third chimed in: “This is kind of a bad look for Hali no? I like him as a player but the dude is by no means the face of the league lol. He’s acting like he’s on the same tier as Wemby, Luka, or Jokic.”
Let's be real: when healthy, Haliburton is a legitimate star. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game, leading the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals. He's a nightly triple-double threat and one of the best passers in the game. But as ESPN's recent scheduling decisions show, networks and leagues often prioritize star power over merit — and Haliburton, for all his talent, isn't LeBron James or Victor Wembanyama.
The NBA has a history of making bold scheduling choices, and sometimes they backfire. Just look at how Daytona's 2027 schedule shake-up upset fans, or how Notre Dame–USC fans erupted over a rivalry game being moved. The point is, schedules are always a balancing act, and not everyone can be happy.
Haliburton's frustration is understandable — he's been sidelined for over a year and wants to prove he's still elite. But by publicly complaining, he's opened himself up to criticism that he's overvaluing his own brand. As Mike Tomlin once said when asked about his future, sometimes the best response is patience, not noise.
At the end of the day, Haliburton will get his chance to shine on the court. If he plays like the All-Star he was before the injury, the primetime slots will come. Until then, he might want to let his game do the talking.
