Indiana Pacers Media Availability | January 18, 2024

Indiana Pacers Media Availability | January 18, 2024

We’re used to seeing you smile are there a number of reasons for the grin to be a little bit bigger these days today specifically uh it’s a good day for us uh you know good last two days excited to add another great player to our team

And uh good to see some familiar faces here when you start to think about how he’ll fit with your group what comes to mind uh I think anytime you add a top player you know in the world that that that that will help your team right

Talent wins games at the end of the day so adding him will be really good uh it’s another guy that can you know score when needed uh he’s a really good facilitator and he’ll fit right in with our group he plays the way we want to

Play I think he’s like fourth in you know transition points or transition field goal or you transition field goal percentage and you know we play in transition better than anybody so uh he’ll be a really good addition to our group at the same time you do have to

Say goodbye to Bruce and Jordan but Bruce specifically how did he impact you this season yeah we had a really good relationship uh we we still will maintain that um you know we talked yesterday on the phone for like 30 minutes after the trade um but yeah

Somebody I grew really close with in a short period of time and uh uh I think just been around a lot of great players and held me accountable when needed and uh just somebody that I can you know really call a brother that we were

Pretty close so uh sad to see him and Jordan go um but I think they’ll have um you know good a good opportunity in Toronto and we’ll see them on Valentine’s Day so I already told Bruce bust his ass on Valentine’s Day so uh it’s exciting was you uh involved in

Conversations you know about this trading thing uh maybe pass a word along about Pascal um well I mean anytime I uh you know they’ve committed to me long term so I think that there was definitely you know some dialogue between us if if if I felt that it would

Work and um yeah I mean I think they me and Pascal obvious have a relationship so I definitely was you know was uh talked to about it for sure and uh you know I think it’s a good opportunity for our team Ty how are you feeling uh I’m

Good I’m good uh I’m ahead of schedule where I want to be and um whenever is the right time for me and the medical staff agrees then you know I’ll be back is that surprising given what maybe it felt like what it looked like to be this

Far ahead uh surprising yeah I mean in that moment I think there’s like a million uh thoughts that run through your mind but after we got the diagnosis in the morning um our medical staff had a pretty good idea of where I’d be and I’m you know right on schedule you know

In terms of what we thought internally I mean externally it’s easy to just say oh he’ll be back after the road trip but um you know we thought that there was opportunity for me to come back maybe during this road trip and so we’ll see

Uh what it looks like and when you look about coming back here to sack I mean it’s it’s one thing to see you know make a play make his return but you’re doing so in a area where you’re leading you know votes in the west or in the East

For guards I mean could you even pictured that type of impact so quickly for yourself uh I mean I think I dreamt of having that opportunity and being in this position and uh definitely been a whirlwind of the last few years but that’s the exciting part about the NBA

And the exciting part of growing up and becoming an adult in the NBA you don’t really know you know what to expect or you have dreams and of what you want to do but you know as time goes on you you realize that it’s a a possibility and so

It’s cool to to be able to do that it’s always cool to be here see familiar faces and uh yeah just reminisce my uh my family’s in town they want to go trop by my old house see what it looks like for some reason so we’re going to do

That later but uh just exciting to to be back for sure what U to go back to Pasco I mean obviously you played against him a bunch you know him really well I mean just what what do you like about his game I mean what what stands out to you

About the the way he can score the way he can defend the fact that he is a two-way player just just tell me more just about what he does stands out that that you you know yeah I think that you know he’s able to to score he’s done

Everything in this league he’s won championship and all NBA guy been an All-Star he’s been able to achieve those things he’s been around other great dudes so I look forward to forming a relationship with him and forming a partnership on the floor him being able

To to teach me things as well you know he’s been around you know great guards in this league and seeing how they’ve been able to you know impact the game and so I’m looking forward to to to grow in that partnership and I think that there’s things that we can both help

Each other with and I think that we can flow off each other well you know he can bring the ball up and handle and I can move to be playing off the ball a little bit more with him on the floor um and I think just you know obviously the

There’s the pick and roll capabilities but I think just being able to get on transition off rebounds either of us can bring the ball up and like I think he’s a very underrated playmaker he’s averaging like six assists or something right now uh top 10 for for for wings so

Um I’m looking forward to getting him here and uh I think it’ll be be really fun is the defensive piece too I mean he’s obviously a guy that gives you somebody with that kind of size that can defend some of the guys of hurt yeah I mean it’s it’s no secret

That uh forwards have especially early the year had like kind of a Feeding Frenzy with us him included I think he had like 30 so about us in IND he so uh I think it’s exciting to add add him and anytime you get another wing it helps I

Mean it’s at the end of the day today’s a Wings League you guys see the value that every wing in the NBA has when it comes to trade talk or whatever everybody’s fighting to get a long Wing that can defend and knock down threes

And and well he can do all that and more so um you know we’ve got a player that every team in the NBA wants and um I think it’d be really fun you’re obviously a guy who pays attention to this trade stuff in general just as a as

A fan of somebody who really cares about the NBA I guess if if you weren’t on this team how would you look at this deal well I I’ve definitely got a lot of calls from people in NBA circles talking to me about it excited uh for me for the

Opportunity I think that everybody sees that it’s a very natural fit for us and it’s going to fit seamlessly with the way that we play and um I think everybody’s talked about you know adding another guy to our team like you know one the guys and I think Pascal’s a guy

So I’m I’m excited about that tyes your name been attached to Superstar you said what you’re going see your old house any place you’re going to go eat or anything where you got I went to crew last night um probably go check out fixing for lunch that’s a good spot

Uh but yeah go see my crib there’s not really I mean doco a little Jambo over there maybe but that’s like a chain spot but yeah definitely I’m going to try to check out fixings for lunch is it tough to not I mean if you don’t play I mean

Was this one you were really looking forward to is this going to always be one you’re looking forward to to make a return here and play well well yeah I mean I would love to to play here um because you know it’s fun it’s like there’s friends over there and stuff

Like that and I just want to play in any game so um yeah I definitely wanted to play in this game but you know can’t control everything you know we’ll play them again so it’s not that big of a deal your name been attached to a superstar status how do you feel about

That uh that’s for you guys to decide it’s not for us to decide as players or I I’m not really I don’t have any control over that so that’s that all runs with what fits in narratives I just play basketball last week we heard you’d be evaluated after the road trip then

You practice yesterday and you could maybe even return this weekend how did you get to this point so fast uh well I mean I think publicly you say you re reevaluate after but we reevaluate every day so uh our we have the best medical staff in the NBA that’s no secret to

Anybody who’s ever been around our organization um and they’ve done a great job of you know being on me to take care of my body and uh helping me with treatment and stuff like that you know I’ve spent a lot of time in the treatment room in the weight room all

That stuff trying to get stronger um be ready to go so um yeah that’s definitely the plan to get back by the end of the road trip and uh we’ll see what happens did Isaac have a little bit more for you today yeah for sure for sure don’t Gess him up

Though quick segue last year around this time you had about 500,000 allar votes now you currently have 2.7 million you know what what’s your thought on that the process of what that goes into it like how does it feel to get that much love and support from the fans yeah it’s

Unbelievable feeling uh that’s the coolest part about the NBA is is the fans and the interactions we have with fans the best part about where I’m at right now is going on the road and seeing my jersey on the road in random places like that’s that means the world

To me like that’s so cool especially where I come from that’s not a thing that can happen so uh fans have been amazing the love that I’ve that I and this team have received all year has been awesome so we just want to keep rolling with that and uh to have that

Opportunity to represent the Pacers in the All-Star Game would mean the world to me so um you know hope hope it’s looking like it’s a it’s a high possibility but uh you know we’ll see what do you like it uh fixing oxtails the catfish catfish uh

Man I don’t know all the above the mac and cheese is good yeah I mean Kool-Aid like come on I had Kool-Aid since I probably left here so uh I’m definitely going to order that so he’s not playing tonight or just his progress progress is steady and consistent um but

There’s no there’s no tie there’s no set timetable so he’s was upgraded to questionable yesterday which means he’s doing better so that’s good news but uh there’s no specific game that’s being targeted right now he um has jumped to number one in fan voting what do you see as a combinations

Of things game popularity Rising what he did in in season is there one thing in particular why you think he’s getting gained so much popular combination of a lot of things um you know the type of player that he is number one um his infectious spirit is

Another thing he uh he makes guys better he he makes spectacular plays and he’s very consistent you know all those things I think have impressed a lot of people that are voting so it’s it’s great to see it’s welld deserved so obviously the sky we just um

Seems like he fits a lot of things uh that you guys need certainly you’ve been complimentary I think every time you’ve ever talked about him uh just your thoughts just on this deal and the player that you’re adding yeah we like him very much been a longtime admirer um

He has some unique skills at the four position um I even I even believe he could play some three and I I know he could play some some small ball five um just I’ve just heard many many great things about him as a as a person as a

Professional as a worker as a teammate um obviously he’s you know M been a multiple Allstar multiple all leagues so um you know he’s he’s done it at a high level and uh you know we we think we’re getting him at a perfect time in his career um and

Situation where you know as I as I mentioned yesterday you know guys that have come to Indiana in the last two and a half years have almost all experienced um great jumps in their career trajectory playing in our system playing with Tyrese playing with our point guards so believe it’s a really good

Opportunity for for him and for us obviously and so we’re excited to have him come on board the dev a little further what do you again I know you’ve been a big fan in general but what do you like about him particular on each end I mean offensive seems like he has a

Very wide skill set um you know as you said he can play him a bunch of positions score a bunch of different ways just what do you like about an offense and also seems like he can defend the guys that you need to defend on defense well he has length he’s uh

He’s an experienced guy that’s defended a lot of great players over the years rebounding is is very good um you know but you know the the fit with Tyrese as a one-w punch is something that it makes uh it makes a lot of sense to us and I

Think to him too and um I don’t know that he’s played with a true space uh space space five man in his career yet so you know that that’s something that can help give him more space to operate in the lane and the paint Etc so you

Know it’s it’s an exciting time you know no no no two ways about it um we’re looking forward to to getting him I believe he has been cleared I believe the trade is complete um getting him joining the team and then seeing what we

Can get him to play do you have a time table on that don’t know for sure no is there a chance he makes it out on the trip or is it more likely that it’s uh we’ll let you know we’ll let you know um certainly

Hope so we got three games left six game trip you know the last three are coming pretty quick um but we’re we’re excited to have him join us you know he he will join us on the trip uh somewhere at some point yes miles I know uh inseason

Trades are always hard because you’re saying goodbye to others and and welcoming in some what’s the feeling on inside the team right now uh very optimistic you know I think that um you know everybody SE as a win now you know move and um I think organizationally I

Think it was a great move for us and whatnot um it was tough to see someone like Bruce with that Championship experience and just a great dude that he was you know go um another younger dude in Jordan who was obviously a great score and somebody who great for the

Lock room to go as well but um you know I think I think they understood you know what the deal was and I’m kind of excited just get back to work there’s a lot of anticipation for how you can fit alongside Pascal what are your thoughts

On that um I think we both open each other’s game up you know I think teams uh can’t necessarily you know guard me with the smaller guys anymore because they can’t guard him with a bigger guy and vice versa and um I think he needs

Uh some of the space to floor for him so he can get to be able to operate and get downhill and um I personally need someone that’s able to help you know help off of me and uh get my open shot so all I think it just a is a win-win

You are someone that’s all about defense as well how can he improve the defense uh he’s a 69ine you know big Wing I think that was a a hole or boy we were trying to feel you know just at beginning season with our defense and whatnot and he comes in right away and

Is able to fit in you know we have a very free flowing offense and um I think something that um he’ll have a easy time adjust into do you like the uh I guess the creativity of a small market franchise you had to go get something

You can always depend on free agency and that’s what they did with Tyrese and that’s what they did yeah no I think it was a it’s an exciting move but a big move at the same time just to have you know some of the you know All-Star resume you know 20

Point and Ice score to come into an organization you know like this and um especially when that’s building and trying to get to to the place that he’s been before you know so um I think it was a you know very uh very uh big move

For us and uh big for the fans as well what do you uh think about tyre’s uh rise in popularity all the vots he’s getting and there’s a lot of circumstances probably behind it but what do you think is the key reason why now all of a sudden NBA fans are like we

Love this guy well deserved he’s easy to root for I think he’s a very likable guy um and uh obviously his gam speaks for itself you know he’s someone who uh you know wants to get others involved you know he he’ll score if he has to but he

Really gets off on just getting guys um going and whatnot and U I mean guys all around the league want to play you know with a guy like that you know I’m blessed and fortunate enough to you know be in a position to play with the point

Guard like himself and um I just think that uh I think his character he’s very high character guy so it’s very easy to root for him how good do you think you guys can be now um you know I feel like Sky’s a limit for us now you know I

Really feel um I’ve been to the playoffs before and i’ I’ve seen what it feels like but now you want to get past that first round you want to advance and um I think it speeds our timeline up quite a bit to go back to pass what just stands

Out to you about him as a competitor you’ve obviously played against him a bunch what is in your time playing against him what’s impressed you about him as an offensive player as a defense play well he’s a two first of all he’s a two-way player I mean he’s someone that

Can um really hurt you you know offensively because he gets downhill draws a lot of attention draws fouls and uh defensively just long athletic and uh can guard you know pretty much two through two through four two through five and um uh within our system that’s

Something that’s going to be very uh U helpful you know going down the stretch what type of challenges does a big like d present especially considering the fact that you know him pretty well uh domas is someone who can hurt you with the pass and hurt you

Scoring as well you know usually it’s one or the other when it comes to bigs but um I mean he’s a big strong physical dude as well you know he wants to uh you know get others involved and um you know it just presents some some defensive

Challenges when it comes comes like your system or not um fun is more than the word for just because we spent so much time together and we both know each other’s games you know pretty well and um you know you just laid it out there and

Compete I mean the same thing we do in practice so it wasn’t nothing um you know uh nothing to add it I would say Jar’s got some run this week and maybe could even again tonight what do you try to do to help him along and what advice

Have you given him now he’s got some playing time um this is exactly what he needs man he got his feet in the fire I mean you really can’t um draw up any better than this you can try to show you know younger dude film you let him get

His rest three on three but just be out there in the fire and playing you know um getting that experience early is is what you need there’s no other way around it

Tyrese Haliburton, Rick Carlisle, and Myles Turner speak with the media following shootaround in Sacramento on Thursday.

0:00 – Tyrese Haliburton
8:23 – Rick Carlisle
12:30 – Myles Turner