As the Indiana Pacers struggle through a lost season, there’s hope for brighter days ahead once franchise player Tyrese Haliburton is cleared to return. While the two-time All-Star is expected to miss the entire season while rehabbing his torn right Achilles tendon, he’s still showing his charismatic personality in various media appearances.
Haliburton recently shared a funny story while speaking with his childhood idol and 2024 Olympics teammate, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Tyrese Haliburton Recalls Learning He’d Have Limited Role on USA Olympic Team
Haliburton was a special guest on the latest edition of the Mind the Game podcast and revealed a light-hearted story while discussing his Olympic experience with James.
Haliburton said, “I have a great story, I’ve never told, I’ve never told anybody this story before. So, we’re at the Olympics. We’re in the back doing film before the Olympics start, and before it starts, it’s like, alright, we’re going to have the team meeting where we acknowledge that all 12 cannot play.
“And so, Steve starts talking about everybody can’t play, and Bron is talking about how, you know in the ’04 Olympics I didn’t really play that much and you kind of, you gotta put your pride aside, you know, it’s about bigger than you, and KD’s over there like at the end of the day, we’re 12 All-Stars, everybody’s good, you know we’re trying to win right?”
Haliburton continued, “And I’m sitting there and I’m listening, and I’m like yeah, and as we start film, I’m like, but who they talking about, like who are these and I’m looking around and I’m like, oh he ain’t talking about him, I’m like oh, they talking about me.”
“They talking about me.” 😭@Hali up about his Team USA experience on a brand new episode. Catch Pt. 1 now on our YouTube, @PrimeVideo, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Watch the full convo: https://t.co/l9sgIKiO8w pic.twitter.com/AWp28pvRRt
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) January 27, 2026
The USA men’s basketball team won its fifth straight gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, in what was the last stand for James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. Heading into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Haliburton should have an opportunity to play more if he makes the team, considering a new generation of stars, likely led by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, will step forward.
While Haliburton seemed to understand his spot on the depth chart, Team USA Head Coach Steve Kerr faced criticism for his rotations during the Olympics, especially regarding Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum.
Despite helping the Celtics win the NBA championship a few months prior, the All-NBA wing also received limited playing time in the Olympics under Kerr. Haliburton’s comments suggest that there was at least some level of transparency regarding players not receiving the minutes they hoped.
With the Pacers currently 14th in the Eastern Conference standings at 11-36, they are turning the page to next season, when Haliburton should be healthy and ready to reignite the offense.
