Pascal Siakam Was Brutally Honest About the Pacers’ Dismal Season Without Tyrese Haliburton
The Indiana Pacers’ 2025-26 season has been a stark contrast to the highs of the previous year. Just months after pushing the Oklahoma City Thunder to a thrilling seven-game series in the 2025 NBA Finals—where they ultimately fell short—the Pacers find themselves mired in one of the league’s worst records. As of December 26, 2025, Indiana sits at 6-24, dead last in offensive rating and near the bottom in several key categories, including points per game (109.2, 30th in the NBA), field-goal percentage (42.9%), and assists (23.3). They are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, with their most recent defeat a 111-94 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on December 23.
The root of this downturn traces back to a devastating injury in Game 7 of the Finals: star point guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon early in the contest. The injury not only ended the Pacers’ championship hopes that night but sidelined Haliburton for the entire 2025-26 season. Pacers president Kevin Pritchard confirmed in July that the team would prioritize Haliburton’s long-term health, ruling out any return this year. Haliburton, a two-time All-NBA selection and the engine of Indiana’s high-octane offense, has been making steady progress in rehab—recently posting videos of himself running, cutting, shooting, and even dunking—but his absence has left a massive void.
Without Haliburton, the Pacers’ identity has crumbled. Last season, with him on the floor, they averaged 117+ points per game, led the league in pace, and thrived on elite ball movement. This year, they’ve plummeted to the bottom in scoring and playmaking. The offense lacks spacing, creation, and rhythm, forcing players to operate in isolation more often. Compounding the issue, injuries have ravaged the roster: key contributors like Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and others have missed significant time, leading to patchwork lineups and constant rotation changes under coach Rick Carlisle.
Amid this turmoil, veteran forward Pascal Siakam has emerged as the team’s steady force—and its most vocal critic. Siakam, acquired midseason in 2023-24 and a key piece in the Finals run, has been Indiana’s best player this year, averaging around 23.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Yet even his consistent production hasn’t been enough to stem the tide. Following the loss to the Bucks, Siakam delivered a candid, no-holds-barred assessment in his postgame interview, calling out the team’s mindset and tolerance for defeat.
“When we decide that losing is not OK, we’re gonna go somewhere,” Siakam told reporters. “But if we go out there every single day and it just feels like, ‘OK, we lost another game, it doesn’t matter,’ we’re just gonna keep sinking. I don’t think we’re gonna get out of it until when you lose and you go home and it really hurts you.”
Siakam’s words cut deep, highlighting a cultural issue within the locker room. He emphasized the need for accountability and urgency, suggesting that the team has grown too accustomed to setbacks. “We all have to ask ourselves, what can we do? And everyone has to come in wanting to win and wanting to make a change,” he added in separate comments. This isn’t just frustration from a losing streak—it’s a plea for a shift in mentality during what was always projected as a “gap year” without Haliburton.
Siakam’s honesty stems from his own journey. A 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors, he has experienced both triumph and struggle. Traded to Indiana in January 2024, he quickly found joy playing alongside Haliburton, crediting the young star for reigniting his passion for the game. “Haliburton made it super fun for me to be here,” Siakam has said in past interviews. “A couple of years ago, basketball was kind of dark for me… Just found my joy for the game.” Now, with Haliburton sidelined, Siakam is shouldering leadership duties, trying to instill that same competitive fire in a younger, injury-depleted roster.
The Pacers’ struggles are multifaceted. Defensively, they’ve been middling (allowing 117.7 points per game, 21st in the league), but the offensive drop-off is catastrophic. Players like Andrew Nembhard (17.4 PPG, 6.4 APG) and Bennedict Mathurin (18.4 PPG in limited games) have stepped up, but the team lacks the dynamic playmaking Haliburton provides. Role players such as Jarace Walker, Jay Huff, and Isaiah Jackson have seen increased minutes, but inconsistency abounds. The Pacers have endured multiple lengthy losing streaks, including an eight-game skid earlier in the season.
From a broader perspective, this season was always going to be challenging. The Finals run elevated expectations, but Haliburton’s injury—combined with the departure of Myles Turner in free agency to the Bucks—created significant holes. Indiana exercised options and extended contracts (e.g., Aaron Nesmith), but the roster overhaul wasn’t enough to compensate. Analysts noted preseason that a playoff berth would be tough, but few predicted a 6-24 start through 30 games.
Yet, there’s a silver lining for long-term Pacers fans. With such a poor record, Indiana is positioned for a high lottery pick in the 2026 draft, potentially adding a talented prospect to pair with a returning Haliburton and the locked-in Siakam (under contract through 2027-28). Haliburton, at just 25, is expected to return fully healthy next season, and the core that reached the Finals remains largely intact.
Siakam’s brutal honesty could serve as a turning point. His leadership—on and off the court—has been invaluable. In the Bucks loss, he contributed 15 points and nine rebounds despite the blowout. Teammates and coaches have praised his professionalism amid the chaos. T.J. McConnell echoed similar sentiments after earlier defeats, questioning effort levels.
As the Pacers head into their next game against the Boston Celtics on December 26, the focus shifts to development and pride. Carlisle continues to experiment with lineups, prioritizing growth for young players like Walker and Mathurin. Siakam, meanwhile, remains the anchor, pushing for a culture where losing “really hurts.”
In a season defined by absence and adversity, Pascal Siakam’s words encapsulate the frustration—and the hope—for better days ahead. The Pacers may be sinking now, but with Haliburton’s impending return and Siakam’s unwavering resolve, the franchise believes it can resurface stronger. For now, though, the veteran forward’s call to action rings loud: Decide that losing isn’t OK, or keep sinking.
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