Indiana Pacers fans hoping to see Tyrese Haliburton back on the court anytime soon will have to wait, but they’ll still get plenty of the All-Star point guard this season—just not in a jersey.
According to a report from Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, Haliburton has signed on as a contributor for Prime Video’s NBA coverage while he recovers from the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton joins Prime Video
The 25-year-old will make periodic appearances on NBA Nightcap, Prime’s postgame studio show, with his debut scheduled for Tuesday night following the NBA Cup quarterfinal doubleheader.
In addition to live studio segments, Haliburton will provide short video vignettes throughout the season that chronicle his rehabilitation process, offering fans an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at one of the league’s brightest young stars working his way back from a devastating injury.
Speaking with Shakeia Taylor of The Athletic, Haliburton expressed genuine excitement about the opportunity. “I’m going to be talking about the games, talking about the season, talking about the NBA as a whole, which I’m excited about,” he said.
“I think, for me—and just NBA players in general—sometimes with the media, I think we all criticize. But the people who are giving us criticism, and the way that our game is talked about and the way that our game is digested, is something that’s always bothered a lot of players.”
Haliburton’s frustration with certain corners of basketball discourse isn’t new, but his new platform gives him a chance to shape the conversation from the inside.
From the court to the studio
As an active player still under contract and still very much part of the Pacers’ long-term plans, his perspective carries a different weight than that of retired legends or full-time analysts.
It’s rare for a star in the prime of his career to step into a broadcast role during the regular season. Typically, active players only dip their toes into media work in the postseason, when their teams have been eliminated.
Injuries, unfortunately, create unusual openings, and Haliburton is making the most of a tough situation.Prime Video’s first year broadcasting the NBA has been praised for its fresh approach to studio coverage.
Rather than relying solely on the usual suspects, Amazon has built a panel that blends Hall of Famers like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash with recently retired fan favorites such as Blake Griffin and Udonis Haslem.
The mix has felt energetic and authentic—something noticeably different from the more traditional studio shows on other networks.
Haliburton himself singled out that approach as a major reason he’s thrilled to join. “I think that Prime is doing a great job of just allowing former players to come on and celebrate our game, which I think is better just overall for everybody,” he told The Athletic.
Now Prime is taking that philosophy one step further by bringing in a current player into the fold. Haliburton’s youth (he’s still only 25), charisma, and reputation as one of the league’s most cerebral playmakers make him a natural fit alongside the existing crew.
His on-court vision translated to 9.2 assists per game last season; there’s every reason to believe that same basketball IQ will shine through when breaking down film and debating the night’s biggest storylines.
Of course, no one—including Haliburton—wanted this broadcasting chapter to begin because of a season-ending injury.
The Achilles tear in Game 7 was a heartbreaking end to a magical Pacers run that saw Indiana come within one win of its first championship in the franchise’s NBA era.
Recovery from an Achilles rupture is a long, grueling process that typically takes 9–12 months, meaning Haliburton is almost certainly sidelined for the entire 2025-26 campaign.
Yet in the face of that disappointment, he’s chosen to stay engaged with the game he loves rather than disappear into rehab.
Fans will get candid updates on his progress, honest takes on the league from someone still living the day-to-day life of an NBA player, and—when the time comes—probably some very funny stories about what it’s like to watch your teammates from a studio chair instead of the bench.
Prime Video’s NBA coverage
Prime Video, which has already proven adept at spotlighting new voices (their Thursday Night Football studio became a breakout hit by doing the same thing), now has a chance to turn one of the league’s most likable young stars into a media personality in real time.
If Haliburton has long been known for his quick wit in press conferences and viral moments on social media. Now an entire season of national television awaits.
It’s a silver lining none of us saw coming when he went down in Game 7, but it could end up being one of the more fascinating player-media experiments in recent memory.
And when Haliburton does eventually lace them up again for the Pacers, he’ll return not just as the same electric playmaker who led Indiana to the Finals, but as someone who spent a full year immersed in how the game is covered, discussed, and celebrated.
For a player who has never been shy about speaking his mind, that experience might make him even more compelling—both on the court and, if he chooses, in front of a camera for years to come.
