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Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The World Is Dan Hurley's Playground: UConn Strikes Gold with Furphy and Reibe
College Basketball The World Is Dan Hurley's Playground: UConn Strikes Gold with Furphy and Reibe Updated Aug. 5, 2025 2:35 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link STORRS, Conn. — Even for a state like Connecticut, where college basketball is a year-round passion, there was nothing particularly special about the morning of June 28, another nondescript Saturday amid a searing summer in this part of the country, with far too many weekends remaining before UConn returns to the court. But things began to change shortly after 11 a.m. local time in response to what was happening across the ocean and several time zones away, as Australia battled the United States in the group phase at this year's FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, an event held in Lausanne, Switzerland. There in Vaudoise Arena, the American roster included bonafide stars like BYU signee AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle; Louisville signee Mikel Brown Jr., the No. 8 overall prospect; and Arizona signee Koa Peat, the No. 9 overall prospect. All of them future first-round talents. And yet the player who outscored them all — the one whose highlights quickly began circulating the internet to enliven Huskies fans several thousand miles away — was a far less recognizable combo guard for the Australians named Jacob Furphy, a product of the NBA Global Academy. Though his team wound up losing by double digits, Furphy poured in a game-high 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting to set social media ablaze, at least within the college basketball sphere. His mixture of spot-up shooting, crafty pick-and-roll maneuvers and a unique ability to finish around the rim had UConn supporters salivating at a time when the program's recruiting class also included five-star shooting guard Braylon Mullins (No. 15 overall) and blue-chip center Eric Reibe (No. 28 overall), who shined for runner-up Germany in the same event. ADVERTISEMENT "You're looking out there on the floor and there's lottery picks up and down the lineup for the Americans and [Furphy] is playing great. He's hanging with all those guys," UConn assistant coach Luke Murray told me last week. "It was just fun to see him play against the best guys. We already had an incredibly high expectation for him, and so we were excited to get to work." With two future Huskies competing in Switzerland, where the United States eventually prevailed, Murray and head coach Dan Hurley hopped across the pond in support of their signees. They watched giddily as the tournament developed into an international emergence for Furphy, who averaged 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in seven games, and yet another confirmation for the long-admired big man Reibe, who put up 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while playing a central role for the Germans. Reibe and Furphy even played against each other in the quarterfinals — "I liked talking a bit of s--- to him," Furphy told me — as online chatter about the legitimacy of UConn's forthcoming push for a third national title in four seasons intensified. The identification and procurement of a player like Furphy, who committed to the Huskies last October, is in keeping with the philosophical revolution Hurley underwent following his team's dispiriting loss to 12th-seeded New Mexico State in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Slowly but surely, and with more than a few nudges from Murray, who is regarded as one of the keenest offensive minds in college basketball, Hurley availed himself to the possibility that junkyard defense and unflinching toughness weren't the only traits needed to win at the highest levels. He followed Murray down the rabbit hole of complex offensive actions, high-powered analytics and the pursuit of players with more holistic understandings of the game, the kind who can make complex reads in real time by enacting a set of well-drilled principles. "My mental health is much better embracing offense," Hurley told me back in 2024, two months before winning his second consecutive national title with a team that finished No. 1 in the country for offensive efficiency. Many of the specific player attributes and schematic ideas that UConn came to embrace are staples of the international game, where freedom of movement and off-ball screening begets beautiful team basketball over some of the one-on-one, isolation-heavy trends in the NBA. That meant it was only a matter of time before the Huskies, who are entering Year 8 under Hurley, began eyeing recruits familiar with those types of systems when identifying potential targets. Reibe, who chose UConn over Kansas, Creighton, Indiana and Oregon, was born in Germany and spent a chunk of his childhood in Switzerland before eventually completing his high school career at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. He possesses exceptional ball skills for a 7-footer and can operate comfortably from either the low post, where his soft touch should be an asset for the Huskies, or the perimeter, where his jumper extends beyond the 3-point line and his sharp passing can feed cutters. With several years of national team experience under his belt, Reibe, who flitted back and forth between a four- and five-star ranking, now comes to Storrs as the primary backup for starting center Tarris Reed Jr., the former Michigan transfer. "Coach Murray watches a lot of EuroLeague and tries to implement some stuff from there and then combine it with the stuff from [the United States]," Reibe said. "They kind of mix it together, and I see a lot of similarities." McDonald's High School All-American Eric Reibe (22) poses during a photo shoot. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Furphy, meanwhile, was born in Tasmania, an island off the southeast coast of Australia, and traveled back and forth to the mainland several times each year as his basketball career progressed. He eventually relocated to the capital city of Canberra, which is smack in the middle of Melbourne and Sydney, to join Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence and the NBA Global Academy, a program that has produced players like Andrew Bogut, Joe Ingles, Patty Mills and Josh Giddey. As with Reibe, the versatile Furphy has been part of his country's international pipeline for several years and even made his debut with Australia's senior team in the 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers. He, too, recognized the offensive overlap between the kind of basketball he's been taught and the core tenets Murray described to him during recruiting conversations. "That was one thing I talked to my agent about as soon as I found out that UConn was interested," Furphy said. "It's a style that I like playing and I've played pretty much growing up my whole life. That was one of the main attractions for sure." Jacob Furphy of Australia drives to the basket during the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. (Photo by Vianney Thibaut/FIBA via Getty Images) This summer, Australia's U19 national team ran much of their offense through Furphy at the FIBA tournament by asking him to come off screens or come through actions and then make the right decisions with the ball in his hands, even if he wasn't technically the team's point guard. Murray was impressed with Furphy's comfort level in a high-usage role and lauded his understanding of how to change speeds as a cutter. Hurley came away from the trip to Switzerland pleased with how Furphy carried himself on the court: He was the first player in and out of every huddle; he was constantly communicating with teammates and coaches; he ran everywhere he went — always a point of emphasis with Hurley. Now, Furphy will be part of a deep guard rotation that includes returner Solo Ball and newcomers Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia transfer), Malachi Smith (Dayton) and Mullins. He projects as a shooting guard or undersized small forward who is capable of sliding over to point guard when necessary. And while his playing time as a true freshman will likely be less than what Furphy was used to with Australia, he's skilled enough to contribute immediately in a reserve role. "We just love his versatility," Murray told me. "He's a screener, he's a cutter, he's an initiator of offense, he's a really good pick-and-roll player. Historically, we haven't been a team that plays a ton out of pick and roll, but he's going to be a guy that we're going to give more freedom to play that way. "He's going to have to continue to get better defensively and get more accustomed to dealing with size and athleticism when he's making his reads as a passer — just getting more accustomed to how that length presents itself on the court, presents itself at the rim when he goes to be a scorer — but yeah, we're super excited about him." That Furphy spent his entire childhood on the other side of the world means the Huskies didn't become aware of him until receiving a tip from a journalist who specializes in covering the NBA Draft. The recommendation sent Murray down another rabbit hole of studying Furphy on tape from his time with both the national team and the NBA Global Academy. Murray liked him enough to ask fellow assistant Tom Moore to visit Atlanta when one of Furphy's teams was competing in the United States last summer. Moore loved what he saw, just as Murray hoped he would, and the Huskies' recruitment of Furphy accelerated once the staff returned to campus and Hurley caught up on the latest film. They convinced Furphy to sign with UConn over Illinois, another program mining international talent at a high level, and have been thrilled with the decision ever since — even if he was ranked outside the top 130 players in the country in the final 247Sports rankings. But fast-forward to this summer and the FIBA tournament became Furphy's formal introduction to the American basketball world. It marked the first time that Hurley watched his incoming freshman play in person, and what a string of performances he and Murray saw. "He doesn't necessarily have the best body, he doesn't have unbelievable length or tremendous athleticism or great speed," Murray said of Furphy. "But that's part of the reason people didn't think [former UConn star] Cam Spencer was that good in high school, you know, or didn't think he was that good at Loyola [before entering the transfer portal]. "So again, I think a lot of it is about fitting stylistically. He may not be a perfect fit for everybody, but he's a perfect fit for us." Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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Indianapolis Star
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
A Furphy leap, 3rd PG and final roster spot: What we learned about Pacers in Summer League
The Indiana Pacers weren't an NBA Summer League headliner for obvious reasons. As tends to be the case, the Eastern Conference champions' success meant they weren't sending marquee names to Las Vegas. The Pacers had just two players on the summer roster who will start the season on standard, full-time contracts. Both of them — wing Johnny Furphy and guard Kam Jones — were second-round picks as the Pacers did not have a first-round pick in either of the past two drafts. They didn't have a single first-round pick on the Summer League roster and their leading 2024-25 scorer on the roster was two-way contract guard Quenton Jackson, who played just one summer game before he was effectively shut down with leg soreness. Accordingly, the Pacers played just one of their five games in Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center — which has a much larger seating capacity than Cox Pavilion, the alternative court — and that game didn't happen until Thursday when the much bigger crowds from the first weekend had dispersed. Ultimately, little about how the Pacers will function in 2025-26 with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton injured and stalwart center Myles Turner moved on to Milwaukee was determined in the desert. But that's not to say nothing in Vegas mattered. There were at least a few notable developments that could affect the end of this year's roster and the Pacers' future. They also went 3-2, a good showing for a team that wasn't anywhere near the best in the event. Here are five things we learned about the Pacers in the Summer League: Insider: Ranking Pacers' most important players for 2025-26 Coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers spent much of this season joking about Johnny Furphy's baby face that makes him look even younger than his 20 years, but they also made a point to note he was progressing quickly and he was tougher than he looks. Furphy didn't get to play much in the way of meaningful minutes outside of November and December when the Pacers were injury riddled and needed wing depth and the season's final two games once they'd clinched home-court advantage in the playoffs' first round. However, the Australian's athleticism and grit flashed and his physical development was clear as the season went on. By the time he went to Vegas, Furphy had put on 20 pounds of muscle according to president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard. The added confidence that came with a bulked up frame made him more aggressive going to the rim throughout the three games he played. That showed up most in his windmill dunk for the ages in which he posterized Bulls lottery pick Noa Essengue in possibly the most impressive slam of Summer League but he had other dunks and other finishes through contact. Furphy averaged 11.3 points per game and shot 52% from the floor, but that number was lower because he struggled from beyond the arc. He made 10-of-13 2-point shots (76.9%) with most of those coming at the rim. He averaged 4.0 rebounds per game and the Pacers would like to see that number higher, but a number of those were boards he had to fight for. Furphy's 3-point shooting still leaves something to be desired as that was considered a strength when he was drafted and hasn't necessarily been one yet. He made just 3-of-12 3s in Las Vegas (25%) after he made just 15-of-50 (30%) in the regular season. Still, Furphy made a case he could be trusted to take on second-unit minutes at one of the forward positions in 2025-26. If everyone outside of Haliburton is healthy when the season starts, he probably won't be in the opening night rotation with Ben Sheppard, Jarace Walker and Obi Toppin likely to be in positions 2-4 on the second unit. However, if there's an injury at any of the wing positions, Furphy could hear his number called and the Pacers will be looking to get him minutes when they can. The Pacers traded back into the draft and took Kam Jones of Marquette in the second round with the No. 38 overall pick in part because Jones played point guard for the Golden Eagles as a senior and the Pacers need depth there after Haliburton's injury. That being said, if the Pacers' had to play an NBA game tomorrow, their third option at point guard behind Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell would be a player on a two-way contract. RayJ Dennis — who appeared in 11 games with the Pacers last year compared to 36 G League games — started at point guard in four of the Pacers' five Summer League games and the comfort he earned in the Pacers system was evident. With him at the helm, the Pacers' Summer squad functioned very similarly to the regular season and playoff edition. He obviously wasn't dealing with nearly the same level of offensive talent or working against nearly the same level of defensive prowess, but he kicked the ball ahead to keep the Pacers attacking in transition and kept it moving from side to side when they were in the half court. The 6-2, 180-pound right-hander has a tight handle and is seemingly no less comfortable going to his left or passing with his left hand than he is with his right and that's helpful in keeping the ball popping. In four games, Dennis posted 29 assists against 15 turnovers. His 7.3 assists per game put him in a tie for first place in the Summer League with Oklahoma City's Nikola Topic as of Friday night. He also averaged 15.8 points per game on 42% shooting, knocking down 40% of his 3-point attempts (10-of-25) showing some serious range on some of those 3s. Defensively, Dennis can still get picked on from time to time, though he does have good hands for steals and registered seven in his four games. Nembhard and McConnell don't have to worry about their jobs, but the Pacers will have more reason to make sure he's dressed for games as an emergency option. The Pacers will certainly hope to develop Jones so they can have a standard contract player ahead of a player on a two-way deal, but if either Nembhard or McConnell miss time while Jones is getting his feet under him, Dennis might be the one running the second unit. The fact the Pacers announced Quenton Jackson's two-way contract at the same time they announced Kam Jones' standard contract seemed to be a sign the Pacers know how important Jackson can be with Haliburton out. The 6-5 guard will turn 27 before the season starts and hasn't been on a standard contract in three seasons since leaving Texas A&M, but he showed last year even on a two-way deal he can make a difference. He started seven games in November when Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Sheppard were all injured and he posted a 24-point scoring outing against the Rockets and scored 12 against the Pelicans in a four-point win. He also scored 21 in the season's final game, helping to lead a remarkable comeback win over the Cavs in two overtimes to get the Pacers to 50 wins on the season. Jackson played just one game in Las Vegas, but he made it count with 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting to go with three assists and two steals, again leading an comeback win over the Cavs after they were down 16 in the first game of the event. The Pacers still managed to win three games, but they never seemed as dangerous as they did when they had Jackson causing havoc on both ends. Again, he'll still be on a two-way deal and he'll likely make a bigger impact in the G League for the Noblesville Boom than he will for the Pacers, but it's possible to imagine a scenario where he can find himself on a standard contract by year's end. Dennis is better built to handle point guard duties, but Jackson's length and ability to defend still make him the two-way player most likely to be trusted by Carlisle. In Las Vegas, Jones proved to be everything he was advertised to be. The left-hander from Marquette is a natural scorer with a dizzying array of spin moves and pivots and other methods to get into the paint and score. He can finish at the rim with either hand and he has good touch on floaters and pull-ups. He's streaky as a 3-point shooter, but he does have range well above the 3-point arc. He can occasionally get too focused on finding his own shot, but he did grow a lot as a distributor as a senior at Marquette when he took the point guard job with Tyler Kolek moving onto the NBA. That skill set showed up in Vegas as Jones averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 assists per game in four games. That included a 21-point, 11-assist performance in a win over the Knicks when Dennis was not playing and the Pacers were focused on getting Jones work at the point. He was 21-of-43 from the floor (48.8%) and 6-of-18 from 3-point range (33.3%) meaning he was 15-of-25 (60%) inside the arc. All of that suggests his crafty game translates to at least the Summer League level and has potential to translate to the NBA. Still, there were moments when he forced action and made ill-advised shots or home-run passes into traffic. Defensively he had some positive moments and was willing to guard 94 feet, but there were times he was swallowed up on screens or put on skates by opposing ball-handlers. He had seven steals in four games which shows some opportunism, but the ball was on the floor a lot in the Pacers' Summer League games, so that's only so impressive. Jones has some time to work on everything he learned in Summer League and he does have a standard contract which gives him an obvious advantage. That being said, there probably is some time in Noblesville in his future and he does have work to do to to make himself a more trustworthy defender than Jackson and floor leader than Dennis. With Jackson and Dennis' positions assured, there's one two-way contract left and an incumbent and a challenger for it. Forward Enrique Freeman and Taelon Peter are both late second-round picks from mid-major schools with fascinating stories of perseverance and each made a good case to be part of the 18-man roster. Freeman was the Pacers' most consistent player in the Summer League, playing all five games and posting double-doubles in each of the last four. He was effective both rolling and popping off of ball screens and he rebounded on both ends of the floor. He continues to have his limits on defense as he's undersized for a center and not quite sharp enough on the perimeter to keep ball-handlers in front of him, but he dependably scores at the rim and rebounds. The 6-7, 220-pounder finished Summer League play with 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and shot 72.5% from the floor. Meanwhile, the 6-4 Peter showed how he led Division I in true shooting percentage this season at Liberty. He was dynamite in transition and around the rim and showed reliable shooting range. He averaged 9.5 points per game on 57.1% shooting, He was just 4-of-15 from 3-point range but showed a smooth stroke that projects to be much better over time. Both seem deserving of two-way deals, but Peter seems to have an edge because he's this year's second-round pick and because the undersized Freeman functions as a center but with power forward size. Freeman would probably be the more effective of the two for the Boom, but Peter might have a better chance to add something for the Pacers. Of the players not in the mix for Pacers roster spots — be they standard or two-way — forwards Phillip Wheeler and Robert Baker appeared to help themselves the most. Wheeler started all five games and averaged 13.2 points per game, which put him fifth on the squad behind Jackson, Freeman, Dennis and Jones. The long-armed 6-8 forward — who went straight to the G League after high school — effectively used Summer League to show how hard and how relentlessly he could drive to the rim. He put defenses in constant conflict and when he didn't finish, he drew fouls. He made 52% of his field goals (18-of-34) but also got to the line for 31 free throws and made 28 of them. He also showed some defensive value with six blocks and 16 rebounds in five games. Baker, also a G League journeyman who played four years at Harvard, scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Pacers' fifth game, a win over the Pelicans. The 6-10 big man averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in four games. He showed he could finish at the rim with both hands, but also made 6-of-17 3s including 4-of-10 in the fifth game. He also blocked three shots and recorded five steals and showed defensive versatility in the pick-and-roll game, staying in front of ball-handlers when he had to switch. For both Wheeler and Baker, the goal would seem to simply be finding another G League job or perhaps a lucrative overseas opportunity. Both at least proved they could help the Noblesville Boom. Isaac Yacob, the Pacers' assistant coach for player development, took his first turn as the Pacers' Summer League head coach and accelerated his rise on the Pacers' staff. Yacob was a video coordinator with the Kings for three years including Haliburton's two seasons and developed a close relationship with the All-Star point guard there. He joined the Pacers in 2022 as a video coordinator for Haliburton's first full season, and he's still Haliburton's closest confidante on the staff. But he's aided in the development of the rest of the roster as well, which helped him earn this opportunity. He made the most of his Summer League chance by making sure the summer Pacers' style nearly matched the big club's style even with so few varsity players on the roster. Heading into Saturday's action, the Pacers led the NBA Summer League in scoring with 102.0 points per game in games that last 40 minutes instead of the standard 48 in regular season games. They also ranked second in field goal percentage (.488), eighth in 3-pointers (11.0 per game) and third in assists (22.8 per game). They weren't great defensively, allowing 105.0 points per game, but they did average 9.8 steals per game — 11th in the Summer League — showing opportunism that helped them run in transition. The ball movement, player movement, offensive pace and defensive pressure that has made the Pacers such a difficult team to play and prepare for over the past three seasons was all clearly present in a team that had its first practice together on the Fourth of July. Creating that level of buy-in and cohesion on that short of a timeline isn't easy and it speaks well for Yacob and the rest of the Summer League staff that they were able to pull it off.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Put this hysterical photo of Johnny Furphy's filthy dunk in the Louvre
Indiana Pacers wing Johnny Furphy took flight in Las Vegas during a game against the Chicago Bulls, and it's a moment he'll likely always remember. Furphy, 20, is an Australian-born former second-round pick who played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. Last year, he was one of the top performers at NBA 2K25 Summer League among second-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. After a trip to the NBA Finals with the Pacers during his rookie campaign, Furphy has had some additional time to get some more basketball under his belt this summer. He showed why that opportunity can help with confidence on Monday evening. All it took was an absurd amount of hang time for one of the nastiest dunks you will see. Check out the way that Furphy takes the ball down the court before throwing it down with authority: Here is another angle for your viewing pleasure and enjoyment. You can really see the way his defender had no chance on this one: The videos may have looked cool, but somehow, one photo made it look even tougher. This was an absolute annihilation by Furphy on Bulls rookie Noa Essengue: Welcome to the league, Noa. Good for you for trying to contest this one, and I'm sorry it had to happen this way.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton react to Johnny Furphy's reel dunk while fans demand more minutes for him
Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton react to Johnny Furphy's reel dunk while fans demand more minutes for him (Image Credit: Getty Images) Johnny Furphy's reel dunk in the Indiana Pacers' game against the Chicago Bulls made everyone sit up and take notice. The 2024 second-round pick stirred the NBA world with his insane dunk. Ones who were quick to notice and react were Indiana superstars Tyrese Haliburton and Caitlin Clark. Fans could not contain their excitement and demanded to see Furphy more on the court in the upcoming season. They also showed concern about Tyrese's recovery from Achilles' tendon surgery. Furphy posted 15 points and six rebounds in his 31-minute game. He stood out in the Pacers' squad as one of the five players who scored in double digits. However, his performance could not stop the Chicago Bulls, and they won the game 114-105.. Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton praise Johnny Furphy's crazy dunk over Noa Essengue The Indiana Pacers' future now seems to be bright with performances delivered by young talents like Johnny Furphy. The Pacers' superstar, Tyrese Haliburton, was all in praise for the rising guard who showed exceptional athleticism with his massive dunk over Noa Essengue. He took to X to express his excitement over Furphy's happening dunk. He wrote: 'Johnny MF Furphy sheeeeeesh' The four-word praise said everything about Haliburton's state of mind as he watched Furphy light the court up with a tomahawk poster dunk. Tyrese Haliburton was not alone in awe of the Australian guard's mind-blowing dunk. WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark also joined Haliburton in praising Furphy and reposted his comment on her Instagram story. Caitlin Clark reposted Tyrese Haliburton's comment on Johnny Furphy on her Instagram Story (Caitlin/Instagram) In addition, the NBA Summer League tweeted on X: 'DUNK OF THE YEAR?!?! JOHNNY FURPHY with the BIG-TIME POSTER DUNK!' Furphy has indeed caused an uproar in the NBA world with his reel dunk. It is sure to go down in history as one of the iconic dunks. The dunk revealed his potential as a fighter and his command over the game. Fans demand more minutes on court for Johnny Furphy in upcoming season Johnny Furphy's dunk over Noa Essengue created a frenzy among fans. They commented on Tyrese Haliburton's encouraging post in large numbers and equivocally demanded to see Furphy more in action in the upcoming season. A fan @HeIIyBurton wrote, 'Tell Rick he needs minutes this year' Another fan @louchatsball commented on Tyrese's post, 'get him in the rotation pls mr burton' One more fan, @PowderPuffPlay, joined the fans in demanding more minutes for Furphy, saying, 'could we get him some mins this year please and thank you.' Fans demanded more minutes for Johnny Furphy in the upcoming season (Source:X) In one of the angles from where Furphy's dunk photo was taken, Chicago Bulls' Noa Essengue's expression was captured. That expression also became the talk of the fans, and some jokingly enquired if Noa is mulling over retirement after Furphy's massive dunk. One fan was quick to suggest that Furphy's breakout year was around. Furphy indeed gave a moment to remember to Indiana Pacers fans with his stylish dunk. Fans wish Tyrese Haliburton a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in action soon Tyrese Haliburton's appreciation post on Johnny Furphy attracted comments from fans who were concerned about his injury. Some fans asked if he was recovering well. One of the fans @Whoispat_ extended support saying, 'We got your back ty' A fan @Tendaloin commented, 'We miss you bro. Even tho I'm not an Indiana fan, I hope your recovery is going great' Fans wished Tyrese Haliburton speedy recovery from Achilles' tendon surgery (Source: X) As per a Fox Sports report dated July 12, Caitlin Clark also shared a recent update on Haliburton's recovery, saying: 'I'm at the hyperbaric chamber and I'm in one tube and Tyrese is in the tube next to me…I mean he loves basketball... I was on a plane flying back, and he's like, 'Yeah, I'm already re-watching it, I'll text you what I think.' And I'm like, bro, that's how you know how bored he is. He's probably one of our biggest fans.' The Pacers' fans are right in expecting Furphy to fill in the shoes of Tyrese Haliburton, who is to give the upcoming season a miss due to recovering from Achilles' tear surgery. Haliburton keeps tabs on the teams' games to stay connected with the game and stay engaged in the recovery phase. Also Read: He's not 100%, it's pretty clear' - Indiana Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle drops crucial injury update on key player Tyrese Haliburton Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Pacers' Summer League Star Delivers Verdict on Rookies
Indiana Pacers' Summer League Star Delivers Verdict on Rookies originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers may not have had a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but they were able to find value in the second round, picking up Marquette standout Kameron Jones and Liberty sixth man Taelon Peter. Advertisement Both players bring extensive college experience, making second-year player Johnny Furphy still the youngest player on the Summer League roster. Furphy was used sparingly in his first season, but has stepped into the "veteran" role on the summer squad. He has long had the backing of Rick Carlisle and doesn't have much to prove this summer. So far, he has been impressed with the rookies. "I like them," said Johnny Furphy. "I think they're super skilled. Yeah, I'm really excited to see what they can do in some way. But, yeah, my first impression is that they're definitely super skilled." Both Peter and Jones are more polished than Furphy was when he was drafted, although a year of NBA training gives him a massive advantage. Advertisement Jones, an All-American in his final season, averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists for the Golden Eagles. He is a bigger guard, and his outside shot is shaky, although with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for all of next season, he is expected to get more playing time than initially thought. Peter was an overlooked prospect who was expected by many to go undrafted, but after leading the country in true shooting percentage as a guard, his efficiency is impossible to ignore. Coming from a small school and conference, he will have trouble cracking the rotation, although he has a vote of confidence from Furphy, who was in the same spot last season. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Indiana Pacers Reveal Bombshell About Losing Myles Turner Related: Bennedict Mathurin Sends Final Message to Former Pacer Myles Turner This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
