The Indiana Pacers just went through a rough 2025-2026 NBA season in the absence of their star guard, Tyrese Haliburton.
As injuries piled up beyond the All-Star, the Pacers’ odds of potentially landing the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft increased by the game.
The Pacers finished 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 19-63 record. The Washington Wizards were the only team worse off, holding a 17-65 record.
Indiana was one of a few teams holding 14.0% odds of picking up No. 1 overall, and had an over 50.0% chance of getting within the top four. Anything beyond that would mean losing the selection to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Unfortunately, that was the Pacers’ reality.
Tyrese Haliburton Reacts To Losing The Top Pick
GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – JUNE 16: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Haliburton took to social media to simply share a clip of Lil Uzi Vert saying, “I lost.”
That was hours after Haliburton put out a post telling TJ McConnell, the Pacers’ representative at the lottery, to “get it done.”
The Pacers did a lot of losing in 2025-2026, and they won’t reap the benefits as the Los Angeles Clippers will hold their fifth-overall pick next month.
The Pacers Can Bounce Back
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JUNE 19: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
While it was a difficult season to stomach for the Pacers, they plan to be back in contention within the Eastern Conference in 2026-2027.
Tyrese Haliburton at his best can have the Pacers looking like championship contenders. After all, he went down with a torn Achilles in the final game of the NBA Finals. Before that playoff run, the Pacers were in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The 26-year-old out of Iowa State started his career with the Sacramento Kings. He quickly established himself as one of the top young prospects in the league after getting selected 12th overall pick.
The Kings used Haliburton as bait in the trade for Domantas Sabonis in 2021-2022. Once Haliburton ended up on the Pacers, he helped turn them from one of the worst teams in the East to contenders.
During Haliburtonâs latest run with the Pacers, he posted averages of 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. In his second playoff run with the team, Haliburton averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 23 games.
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