Pacers guard Haliburton will miss entire '25-26 NBA season
"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever," Pritchard said. "He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now. Don't get any hopes up that he will play."
Haliburton sparked the Pacers to their first NBA Finals since 2000, averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game.
"He plays best when he is really hungry and I'm guessing next year, he's going to be champing at the bit to prove to everybody that he's back," Pritchard said.
"We're just going to have to take it slow and make sure he's back to 100 per cent. I expect great things and him being an-All NBA player -- we witnessed something with clutch shotmaking that I've never seen in the NBA."
That included a game-winning basket at the buzzer to beat Oklahoma City in the finals' opener.
Pritchard said the Pacers haven't given up on being an NBA contender but realize they will lack something special until Haliburton returns from June 23 surgery.
"We were 24 minutes and an injury away," Pritchard said. "We have some challenges with Ty's injury but we like what we have.
"We'll have some guys that hopefully will have some opportunities and when he gets back, it'll be the cherry on top, I guess."
Haliburton's rehabilitation is off to a strong start, Pritchard said.
"He has been doing great," Pritchard said. "He's doing good, but the real work starts now in terms of rehab and it's tough."
Haliburton has said he would take the chance again and play in the winner-take-all last game of the NBA Finals despite suffering the injury, but Pritchard said he didn't feel the same.
"Would I have him do it over and over? I would not," Pritchard said. "If I knew he was going to get hurt, I would sacrifice that game because I care for the kid so much."
The Pacers have also lost another key member of their run to the finals as center Myles Turner signed a four-year free agent deal with Milwaukee.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Pacquiao, 46, eyes comeback upset in Barrios showdown
The 46-year-old Filipino icon takes on World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas chasing another milestone to crown his glittering 30-year professional career. Pacquiao stunned the boxing world in May when he announced that he planned to end his four-year exile from the sport to challenge Barrios, taking advantage of a WBC rule that allows former champions to request an immediate title fight when coming out of retirement. Pacquiao, who is reportedly set to receive between $5-10 million for Saturday's fight, says his comeback is motivated by his passion for the sport and the adrenaline rush of headlining a Sin City fight night. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said during a recent publicity tour. "Especially these situations -- being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me -- I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Sceptics though have voiced concern that Pacquiao, whose last professional win came in 2019, may have bitten off more than he can chew by exercising his right for a title shot against a defending champion Barrios who is 16 years his junior and in the prime of his career. Even Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's long-time trainer who will be in the Filipino's corner once again on Saturday, admitted to initially harbouring reservations about the match-up. "I really don't want to see him make a comeback, because I think he's already been great. He's already done everything he can do," Roach said in May before Pacquiao's return was made official. 'Bad intentions' Oddsmakers have echoed the scepticism, with Barrios installed as 4/11 favourite to dish out a ninth defeat in what will be Pacquiao's 73rd career fight. "I'm okay being the underdog," an unfazed Pacquiao said in Las Vegas this week. "I've been the underdog many times. I'm always bringing surprises." Pacquiao's supporters meanwhile point to the Filipino's chiseled physique and glimpses of impressive hand speed as reasons to believe that the veteran can produce another memorable Vegas win. Yet boxing history is littered with veteran fighters who looked sharp in training camp only to be dismantled by much younger opponents when fight night rolled around. Many in the sport have wondered if Pacquiao might be heading for the same kind of pummelling that he dished out to an ageing Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. De la Hoya, who had been favoured to win that contest, was soundly beaten over eight one-sided rounds in what would be the final fight of the American's career. "I wanted to die in that ring," De La Hoya revealed years later. Pacquiao insists the fears surrounding his comeback are overblown, noting that his family were squarely behind his decision to lace up the gloves again. "I'm thankful for their concern," Pacquiao told AFP. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." A win for Pacquiao on Saturday would see him make history as the first active fighter to win a major world title after being inducted to boxing's Hall of Fame. Standing in his way though is Barrios, who says Pacquiao's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era will not distract him from the task in hand. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed," Barrios said. "Hats off to Pacquiao for daring to be great. But it's my time now and I'm gonna show that come Saturday. © 2025 AFP
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Messi's multi-goal streak ends as Cincinnati beats Miami 3-0
The 38-year-old Argentine star forward had scored a brace, two goals, in five consecutive matches for Miami, giving him 16 goals on the season as Inter managed four wins and a draw in the run. Not since 2012 when he played for Barcelona had Messi netted a brace or more in five consecutive matches. But Cincinnati kept Miami to only two shots on goal in the contest. US 20-year-old midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela opened the scoring for Cincinnati in the 16th minute. Brazilian striker Evander followed with a goal in the 50th minute and struck again in the 70th to provide all the scoring the hosts needed. Miami fell to 11-4 with five drawn for 38 points, fifth in the Eastern Conference and eight points adrift of first-place Philadelphia, the overall MLS leader which beat Montreal to stay one point ahead of Cincinnati in the overall MLS standings. Inter Miami has three games in hand on both clubs but would need to win them all to overtake their rivals for the overall league lead.
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Beal agrees to Suns contract buyout with Clippers next: reports
The 32-year-old American was the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by Washington and traded to Phoenix in 2023 but struggled in two seasons with the Suns, setting the stage for his departure. After clearing waivers, Beal plans to sign a two-year deal worth $11 million with the Clippers, his agent told ESPN and the Arizona Republic, with a player option for the 2026-27 campaign that could make him a top free agent next year. The Suns had the NBA's most expensive roster last season but finished 36-46 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Beal's buyout marks the latest move to revamp the roster. Phoenix fired Mike Budenholzer as coach in April, replacing him last month with Cleveland assistant coach Jordan Ott. The Suns also traded star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets as part of a seven-team deal earlier this month. Beal battled injuries in his two seasons with the Suns, playing 53 games in each. Last season, Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game. It was his lowest point-per-game production since the 2014-15 campaign. Beal would join a Clippers lineup that includes guard James Harden, forward Kawhi Leonard and center Brook Lopez. A handful of NBA rivals reportedly made pitches for Beal, whose new club has enough money below the league salary cap to compete in the free agent market for the next two years.
