Haliburton Targets Opening Night Return; VanVleet Outlines ACL Recovery; Boozer Aims to Bring Winning Mind-Set to Grizzlies
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INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said he expects to be fully available when the 2026-27 season begins, marking his first action since rupturing his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Speaking at his Simple Truth Basketball ProCamp, the 26-year-old told reporters he finally feels “like a healthy NBA player” after a year of rehabilitation. Haliburton added that he has also moved past a case of shingles that sidelined him in April.
Indiana is counting on the former All-Star to reverse last season’s 19-63 slide. Center Ivica Zubac, acquired earlier this summer, is expected to join Haliburton in the starting lineup as the club attempts to re-enter the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Houston
Rockets guard Fred VanVleet described disbelief when doctors informed him that the knee injury suffered early last season was a torn ACL and meniscus.
“I said, ‘No, that ain’t mine,’” VanVleet recalled on his “Unguarded” podcast, noting he initially thought he would miss only a few weeks. The veteran said he argued with medical staff for days before accepting the diagnosis and plans to return “with a chip on my shoulder” once cleared.
Memphis
No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer said winning is his chief objective as he begins his professional career with the Grizzlies.
“You play the game to win. That’s what I’ve done at every level. I hope to bring that to Memphis,” the former Duke forward told Grind City Media. Memphis selected Boozer to serve as a foundational piece for the franchise’s next phase.
Source: Hoops Wire
