There has always been beef between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons, but for Tyrese Haliburton, that started even before he was a part of the franchise.

With their lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Pistons rolled the dice on international prospect Killian Hayes. This was a time when they were in need of a point guard, and Iowa State prospect Haliburton was available right in front of them.

However, the Pistons chose to go a different route, and about four years later, Haliburton opened up about his frustrations with being passed over.

"With the Pistons, I knew they needed a point guard. I already felt like I was the best point guard in the draft...Flashed up, Killian Hayes. I'm like what, in the moment I was just angry." Haliburton said in an interview with Taylor Rooks in 2024.

With the power of hindsight, we now know that drafting Hayes did not pan out for the Pistons, as he never lived up to the potential of being a top-10 pick. He'd appear in 210 games across four seasons, averaging 8.1 PPG and 5.2 APG in that time. 

The Pistons eventually had to waive him, making him one of the more disappointing draft picks in recent memory. Meanwhile, Haliburton's career followed a completely different trajectory.

Since being traded to the Indiana Pacers, Haliburton has completely changed the landscape of the franchise.

Their peak together came last year, when the Pacers reached the NBA Finals and were on the verge of victory, if only Haliburton had not gotten injured in the crucial Game 7.

A little over a year after his injury, Haliburton is set to return at the start of the new season. However, he is discontent with how the league has treated his monumental return so far.

Tyrese Haliburton is Not Happy with the NBA's Scheduling

Haliburton will return to the court 16 months after his devastating, heartbreaking Achilles tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. However, he won't be receiving any sort of grand commemoration.

The Pacers are starting their season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Not with the reigning champions Knicks, Cavaliers, Thunder, Pistons, Celtics, Heat, or Hawks. The Pelicans.

The Pacers and Pelicans don't have a rivalry, nor do they have a recent high-profile trade. They're not even in the same conference, and Haliburton expressed his disappointment while appearing on the "Numbers On The Board" podcast recently.

"Name any other person that you compare to my level of a basketball player, wherever you have me ranked. If they tore their Achilles and missed 16 months, do you think that game would be on national television?" Haliburton asked the hosts, all of whom said yes.

"Do you think that game would be at home, if not on national television?" Haliburton followed up, as the hosts again agreed.

"Do you think that game would be at New Orleans?" Haliburton added, with a smirk on his face.

In the 2024/25 season, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three.

He was one of the best players in the league that season, yet the NBA's scheduling is not making him seem like one right now.

So, do you think Haliburton should receive better treatment upon his grand return to the NBA? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy