Tyrese Haliburton has 2,985 career assists, 15 short of 3,000, and by our count that is about two games at this season's pace of 9.5 a game. He is out with a left hamstring problem and his estimated return is November 13, so the milestone waits.
Two marks within reach
Haliburton has 2,985 career assists and 495 career steals. At 9.5 assists and 1.3 steals a game this season, our projection puts the assist mark about two games away and the steals mark about four. Those rates cover only four games played, so read them as a projection at the current pace, not a promise. Both are career totals, and the steals mark needs a few more games than the assists.
A schedule that will not wait
Indiana is 2-4 and has dropped three in a row. The next five games are the Nets on November 1, the Hawks on November 2, at the Grizzlies on November 4, the Nuggets on November 7 and at the Mavericks on November 9. Haliburton's estimated return is November 13, after all five. Estimates slip, but even a return on time means the milestone arrives only after this stretch, with the Pacers trying to hold a playoff-range seed without him.
Who passes until then
Andrew Nembhard is the one to watch. He is averaging 8.0 assists and 17.6 points across five games this season, and the ball runs through him while Haliburton sits. Jarace Walker offers a smaller mark: 237 career threes, 13 short of 250, about 12 games away at 1.2 a game this season, and he is not listed out. If Nembhard keeps creating at this pace, the offense stays organized in the meantime, and the 3,000th assist becomes a home moment for Haliburton rather than a footnote.
How many assists does Tyrese Haliburton need for 3,000?
He has 2,985 career assists, so he needs 15. At 9.5 a game this season, that is about two games, but he is currently out.
When is Tyrese Haliburton expected back?
His estimated return is November 13, with a left hamstring problem. That is after the five games Indiana has scheduled through November 9.
