The Athletic: Tyrese Haliburton joins 'NBA on Prime'

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Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is joining “NBA on Prime” as a player contributor and will make his broadcast debut Tuesday night during “NBA Nightcap.”

Haliburton, who suffered an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, will deliver behind-the-scenes content on his recovery journey for “NBA on Prime” viewers throughout the 2025-26 season as well as offer his insights and commentary on happenings around the league.

“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,” Haliburton told The Athletic. “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 joins NBA greats Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash and Udonis Haslem with host Taylor Rooks as they put the night’s NBA events in perspective. He said he looks forward to joining players he’s admired while putting the game in a positive light.

“I think the great part about Prime is that they have a ton of former players that are talking about the game,” Haliburton said. “I think Dirk, D-Wade, Candace Parker, UD (Haslem) and Steve Nash talking the game is important. I think that Taylor (Rooks) is somebody who has a lot of respect in our league as well, just the way that she asks questions, and she’s so engaging. But I think just being able to talk about the game with people, and not always having to be so critical of players, but just how we can talk about the game and put today’s players in the right limelight. I think it is important.

“I think that’s something that Prime has done that’s excited a lot of basketball fans, and something that I was like, I want to be a part of that. I’m excited to be a part of that. I’m really looking forward to doing that this year.”

In his new role, the two-time All-Star hopes to be a voice that not only celebrates the NBA but helps fans understand the game and its players a bit better. Of the former players on the studio crew, Haslem played most recently, having retired in 2023, and Haliburton says he can offer the current player perspective that is often overlooked when it comes to NBA discussions.

“I think for a fan who just turns on the game and is more of a casual fan, the talking heads are important to them,” Haliburton said. “This is what they’re seeing on television. And I think that sometimes our game can get so critical, and it can be so narrative-based. That’s something we talked about during the (NBA) Finals, right? It was so refreshing, I think, for our game to see the Pacers versus the Thunder because it was less about narratives of ‘Where does this put his legacy?’ and more about how the Pacers are attacking the Thunder and how the Thunder’s defense is.”

Haliburton said he thinks “NBA on Prime” is less critical of players and offers fans a more positive view of the league, which, in turn, could help change the way fans discuss the NBA. Haliburton believes overly critical coverage doesn’t inform fans, just gives them talking points to repeat, and it’s something he’d like to see change.

“I think that that’s important because it allows the casual fan to have a better understanding of the game,” Haliburton said. “And I think that if people have more of an understanding of the game and talk more about what’s in front of them, I think that that’s better for our game overall. It’s more of a celebration and positivity around our game. And I think that our league, arguably, is one of the only leagues where people are so critical of players that sometimes it can create opinions from the casual fan that they don’t even know what they’re talking about.

“It’s just what they’re hearing on television. 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.”

Amazon Prime Video tipped off its NBA coverage this season with a star-studded crew and high-level production that has seen a mostly positive reception from viewers.

Fans can catch Haliburton and the rest of the Prime crew after Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinals matchups between the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic (6 p.m. ET) and the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors (8:30 p.m. ET).

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