In his first basketball game in 472 days – June 22, 2025 – the two time Iowa State letter winner and Olympic gold medalist contributed seven points and six assists in a 123-112 win over the Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum.
“I think it’s obviously the loudest preseason game I’ve ever been a part of,” Haliburton said following the game. “Probably be the loudest preseason game I’ve ever been a part of, but had a lot of fun. A lot of special memories I’ve made here and that just adds to it.” So, it was
a lot of fun.
Prior to Wednesday night’s preseason contest, Haliburton spent 16 months recovering from a severe Achilles tendon rupture suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals in Oklahoma City. Reflecting on the physical and mental hurdles, Haliburton responded to praise from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle regarding his consistency throughout the rehabilitation process.
“I don’t know if I could give you one word to really summarize it, but it’s been a roller coaster,” Haliburton said. “Roller coaster of emotions for me. I’ve had a lot of hard days, but I think it’s all just part of it being a human being, and 16 months is a long time. I’ve never went that long without playing basketball. So, I feel like I learned a lot about myself.”
He added that sitting out forced a shift in his overall perspective.
“I got to spend a lot of time on the sideline watching and even today as I was like struggling to start the game and I was tired as hell,” Haliburton said. “But even through that I just kept feeling like, ‘Man, I’m playing again,’ like how thankful I am. So I think my perspective on life on basketball has changed a lot through this injury. I think that’s the biggest thing is it’s been easier for me to take a step back and be like, ‘Just appreciate the little things right now.’ So that’s what I’m doing. Just appreciating all the things that come with this, the good and the bad, and continuing to learn, and been fun.”
Once back on the floor, Haliburton admitted his adrenaline was surging. After turning the ball over on Indiana’s initial possession, he quickly settled in by hitting a 15-foot jumper for the Pacers’ first points of the night. He later knocked down a 3-pointer and celebrated by raising his palms upward.
“When you miss some time and you come back, I think from any length of time, that your timing and all those things have to get better,” Haliburton said. “For me, I feel like I’m just playing really fast right now. I mean, it’s first game, but slow down. I think it was just a lot of adrenaline. I was hyped to be out there, excited, but I just got to slow down a little bit.”
He compared his return to the adjustment period faced by league newcomers. “Just felt like I was, like when you talk to a rookie or something and they say like the game’s just moving really fast for me right now,” Haliburton said.
“I don’t think my reads were moving fast necessarily as much as just I was moving really fast. I just got to slow down, but it’ll happen with time and the only way to really replicate that is game reps against other guys and that’s what that was. So really excited about it, and there’s a ton of improvement that there is to be made on my end and on our team’s end, but just excited to be back on the floor.”
He expressed confidence moving forward.
“As I slow down a little bit, I’m able to get my feet under me to shoot the three to get downhill, kind of hit him on that late roll,” Haliburton said. “It’ll come with time, but I’m really confident in it. I know how good of a player he is and we all are, but I mean, we all were at halftime like, ‘This is going to be a lot of fun,’ So, we know we all got to get a lot better and we will as the season goes on, but it’s been enjoyable.”
The matchup came together in part due to Haliburton’s relationship with Minnesota star Anthony Edwards.
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“Shout out to Ant because, like obviously me wanting to do this, Timberwolves got to say yes,” Haliburton said. “They’re not saying yes without his approval and that’s like my brother. So I made sure to tell him I appreciate him. If he wants to go to Georgia, I’ll make sure that we say yes to that as well. So I’m just really appreciative of him and the whole organization.”
Pregame anticipation made sleeping difficult prior to tipoff.
“I enjoyed it a ton. I was really excited,” Haliburton said. “I think all day, I struggle to sleep a little bit like anybody when the season starts. I’m always like that. I’ll chill, man. I just was excited to be back here. I knew it was going to be crazy. I don’t think I was prepared for exactly how loud it was going to be. But that’s the fun part about it. Why I love this place… just I’m excited that there’s film on tape, like I’ll be able to watch film, good and bad. I’m excited about that. Just the process that comes with being great. So, looking forward to all of that.”
However, Haliburton kept the exhibition setting in perspective.
“I think it’ll be different come game one of the real season,” Haliburton said. “Preseason’s kind of like an open scrimmage to a sense. I think it was less excitement about being back on the floor and more excited about being back at Iowa State because I view this as just my first time playing against other guys, but I really don’t think I’ll feel the whole all the weight of it until game one of the real season.”
During the game, Iowa State fans booed Pacers rookie guard Braden Smith, who played collegiately at Purdue, finished with a 3-pointer, five assists and five rebounds in 14 minutes.
Haliburton admitted he was puzzled by the reception.
“I still don’t really understand the reason. A little dumbfounded,” Haliburton said. “I mean, I get it, but I mean, for lack of a better, we beat the [ out of Purdue last year, so it ain’t like he did anything crazy to us last year. So, I don’t understand. That’s tough to play your first game in like a college road environment. How weird is that?”
Haliburton praised Smith’s floor vision, including a highlight behind-the-back pass.
“I thought he did a great job,” Haliburton said. “He settled into the game really well. I’m sure he will tell you that the game was moving really fast for him, but as time goes on, he’s able to slow down. I mean, Braden’s an unbelievable passer, has unbelievable feel for the game. So, that behind the back pass he had was really—I thought that was dope… As time goes on, I feel like he gets more reps in the G-League and in preseason and in the league, I feel like he’ll be really good. So, I was proud of him… I apologized. I was like, ‘I don’t know why they’re booing you. Who knows?’ But I thought he did a good job.”
Haliburton also reflected on the 2020 NBA Draft class, which featured four top-12 selections on the floor in Wednesday’s game. “I don’t think we talked about it,” Haliburton said. “I think we all kind of feel like, they thought our draft class was going to be terrible, and I feel like I played with half of our draft at this point. But I think we understand the magnitude of it, how cool it is. Obviously the NBA is a brotherhood, there’s only so many of us, and I tweeted when LaMelo got traded there how cool that is, for two of the top 2020 guys to be together and how exciting it is. I’ve had the opportunity to play with Aaron and Obi and Sticks and James Wiseman and a couple guys… I think it’s really cool seeing them drive. Obviously they’re in the other conference and I’m really excited for them.”
Although Haliburton sat out the second half, he actively engaged with the crowd, joining in on “Juicy Wiggle” and singing along to “ISU Fights”
“I’m a Cyclone through and through, being a part of something like that is a lot of fun,” Haliburton said. “Just being a part of all the traditions.”
When asked about participating in student fan traditions such as singing along to Mr. Brightside, Haliburton joked: “Yeah, don’t worry. I’m not a student anymore. I can’t get in trouble.”
“It was a lot of fun, man. I enjoy coming back here. I enjoy all of our traditions here and the culture of Iowa State,” Haliburton added. “When I came here, I really immersed myself in it. I went to every football game. I went to the women’s basketball games. I went to gymnastics meets. I went to everything and I think that was just the exciting part of being a Cyclone and that’s what comes with it.”
He underscored the unique connection between university athletics and the local Ames community.
“We don’t have any professional sports teams here,” Haliburton said. “So, we kind of all are the professional sports teams. I think all the athletes here take pride in that and that makes a lot of fun.”
On the floor, Aaron Nesmith paced six Pacers in double figures with 19 points. Jay Huff scored 16 points, Ben Sheppard added 13, and Obi Toppin and Pascal Siakam finished with 10 points apiece.
Indiana continues its preseason schedule Saturday, hosting the Keshon Gilbert and the Atlanta Hawks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers travel to face Oklahoma City on Tuesday before concluding preseason play against Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 16.
Regular-season action begins Oct. 21, at New Orleans.
Box score
MINNESOTA (112)
Kuminga 1-9 0-0 2, McDaniels 6-10 0-0 16, Gobert 2-3 3-3 7, Ball 5-9 0-0 14, Edwards 5-10 5-6 19, Beringer 1-3 0-0 2, Evans 1-5 0-0 2, Freeman 0-2 0-0 0, Lyles 3-4 0-0 8, Omier 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 2-7 2-2 6, Shannon Jr 2-4 4-5 9, Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Dosunmu 3-7 3-4 10, Hyland 3-7 1-1 10, Pullin 3-5 1-2 7. Totals 37-85 19-23 112.
INDIANA (123)
Nesmith 7-9 1-1 19, Siakam 5-8 0-0 10, Zubac 3-7 0-0 6, Haliburton 3-8 0-0 7, Nembhard 2-5 0-0 4, Brown 2-5 0-0 5, Slawson 1-4 2-2 4, Toppin 4-5 1-1 10, Walker 3-6 0-1 7, Oubre Jr. 1-1 2-2 5, Huff 6-11 2-2 16, Keita 2-2 0-0 4, Mast 2-4 0-0 5, Jackson 2-2 0-0 5, Sheppard 4-8 2-2 13, Smith 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 48-89 10-11 123.
Minnesota 27 38 26 21 — 112
Indiana 32 29 38 24 — 123
