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Tyrese Haliburton not expected to have many limitations; Pacers working Ivica Zubac into system
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- Tyrese Haliburton not expected to have many limitations; Pacers working Ivica Zubac into system
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers will hold their annual media day as coach Rick Carlisle and nine players will speak to the media Monday, Sept. 28. Practice begins Tuesday with the preseason schedule starting opening Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Ames, Iowa, vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves in a homecoming for Tyrese Haliburton . The regular-season schedule starts Wednesday, Oct. 21, in New Orleans . Here is today's schedule:
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10 a.m.: Rick Carlisle
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10:30 a.m.: Tyrese Haliburton
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10:45 a.m.: Pascal Siakam
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11 a.m.: Ivica Zubac
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11:15 a.m.: Andrew Nembhard
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11:25 a.m.: Aaron Nesmith
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11:35 a.m.: T.J. McConnell
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11:45 a.m.: Obi Toppin
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11:55 a.m.: Kelly Oubre Jr.
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12:05 p.m.: Larry Nance Jr.
Nance to add depth to Pacers
12:14 PM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
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Larry Nance Jr. signed with the Pacers this offseason, and he'll be part of the team's center rotation alongside Ivica Zubac and Jay Huff . Zubac, Huff and Nance all play slightly differently than each other, and Nance likes that their styles don't intersect. "That's where the NBA's headed," Nance said of playing double-digit players in the rotation.
Oubre chose Pacers for culture
11:59 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
Kelly Oubre said the Pacers' culture enticed him to sign a two-year deal with the team. Oubre wants to be "engulfed" in the way the team plays and interacts as he helps lead the bench unit.
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"The most important part of it is that nobody had to say anything to me about that, you see it," Oubre said. "... I'm very proud to be a part of that, and I'm very exciting to instill it in my DNA as well."
Nesmith growing from last season
11:42 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
Aaron Nesmith had the longest offseason of his career after the Pacers missed the playoffs and he said, "There's a lot of hunger and a lot of sting from last season that we have leftover." Nesmith feels he grew on and off the court from the Pacers' disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
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Zubac looking forward to playing with Haliburton
11:25 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
After the Pacers acquired center Ivica Zubac at last season's trade deadline, he'll play with Tyrese Haliburton for the first time. Zubac spent the summer getting in shape to play at the team's fast pace, and he noted how quickly Haliburton gets rid of the ball based on his time scrimmaging with the team in Nashville earlier this month.
"It felt really natural for me," Zubac said of playing with Haliburton. "It's never hard playing with smart point guards. We don't need much time to gel together."
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Siakam says turnaround 'doesn't happen overnight'
11:11 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
Pascal Siakam is focused on getting the Pacers back to their winning ways. Siakam mentioned how many teams throughout the Eastern Conference have gotten better, and how the Pacers have to make sure they've improved as well to be able to contend this year.
"We have to rebuild that," Siakam said. "And it starts tomorrow when we get out there for training camp."
Haliburton says team has 'chip on our shoulder'
10:58 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
Tyrese Haliburton is excited to be an underdog again. Despite coming agonizingly close to winning the NBA Finals in 2025, Haliburton had to go through rehab and watch from the bench as the Pacers had the worst season in franchise history in 2025-26. Now, he's looking to help the Pacers contend again in 2026-27.
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"It's been like a fun process to get right back to it," Haliburton said. "In a sense, I feel like an underdog mentality. ... And that's been fun, having to rebuild who I am and rebuild myself."
Haliburton says 'there will be no restrictions'
10:48 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
Tyrese Haliburton feels 100% after his torn Achilles and doesn't think he'll be restricted whatsoever. "I've worked really hard to get to where I am right now," Haliburton said.
Toppin excited for James Johnson 's return
10:40 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
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Although James Johnson will be waived before the regular season begins, the Pacers are optimistic for him to be around for training camp. General manager Chad Buchanan left the door open for Johnson to return during the season, and Obi Toppin understands what the veteran means to the team.
"He won't hold his tongue for anyone," Toppin said. "He knows what we need to be successful. Even if it's for a couple days, he's going to make his presence is known and make sure our team knows what it takes to get to that level."
Carlisle excited for Oubre's versatility
10:21 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
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Kelly Oubre was the team's premier free agent signing, as he comes to the Pacers on a two-year deal. Rick Carlisle applauded Oubre's ability to guard multiple positions as a primary reason why the team brought him along.
"You cannot have enough versatile wings on your team in the NBA," Carlisle said. "He's going to help us from Game 1."
Pacers don't anticipate much load management for Haliburton
10:14 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
Rick Carlisle said the team will be on constant communication with the training staff about how to bring back from his torn Achilles he suffered in June 2025. Carlisle doesn't anticipate many limitations for the All-NBA guard, and he pointed out how Haliburton has been playing five-on-five scrimmages with the team in Nashville ahead of training camp.
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Carlisle says Pacers need to "reclaim our position as competitive team"
10:03 AM ET, September 28 2026, Zion Brown
After the Pacers' 19-63 season that was riddled by injuries, Rick Carlisle says "a lot of planning" has gone into the team's training camp preparation to get back to competing at the top of the NBA.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrese Haliburton not expected to have many limitations; Pacers working Ivica Zubac into system
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