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LeBron James and the Indiana Pacers appear to be a non-starter, according to Tyrese Haliburton , who revealed that his recruitment pitch to the 22-time All-Star landed with a thud. Haliburton texted James before Fanatics Fest, inviting him to join Indiana, and got back six laughing-crying emojis instead of a real answer. The exchange, shared during Haliburton's appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, confirms what many suspected: James is not considering the Pacers as he weighs his next move in an already prolonged free agency.

Tyrese Haliburton had a pitch for LeBron James
Tyrese Haliburton laid out exactly how the conversation went, and the response left little room for interpretation. "LeBron being my teammate, it's not looking good," Haliburton said on the show.

He explained that he texted James before Fanatics Fest with a straightforward ask, hoping to sell the 41-year-old on Indiana. James wrote back with six emojis only, and Haliburton noted the reaction felt more dismissive than playful once he realized how many laughing-crying faces James had actually sent. “I texted him before Fanatics Fest, and I said, ‘Hey, you should come be a Pacer.’ And he responded with six laughing crying emojis. I thought it was two. I said during our interview that it was two. I went back to the text and saw that it was six,” the Pacers star added.

Haliburton and the Pacers are one year removed from a surprise run to the NBA Finals, a stretch cut short when Haliburton suffered an Achilles tear during that postseason run. He is expected to be ready for next season, and Indiana has kept most of its core from that Finals roster intact, adding Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr. to fill out the roster this summer.

Will LeBron James join the Indiana Pacers?
The short answer, per Haliburton, is no. James is reportedly weighing a shortlist of around five teams, and Indiana was never seriously on it despite Haliburton's outreach. James has shown a history of frustration with the Pacers organization dating back to his Miami Heat years, when the two teams clashed repeatedly for Eastern Conference control, so the cold response tracks with that history.

There's also a basketball logic at play. James wants to maximize whatever time remains in his career, and Haliburton's health after a serious Achilles injury represents real uncertainty, even with the Pacers otherwise built to compete. Roster mechanics reinforce the point further. Indiana is capped at the first apron and has already used its final roster spot on Oubre, leaving little room to maneuver even if James had interest.

Top 3 teams where LeBron James could land to end free agency
James' actual finalists look different. The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as the clearest frontrunners, with Philadelphia gaining traction thanks to the presence of Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown. The Golden State Warriors remain in the mix as well, helped by James' close ties to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Reports continue to suggest that James is prioritizing championship odds over financial terms in making his call.

James was initially expected to announce a decision earlier this month, but with the World Cup wrapped and free agency now in its third week, his camp has stayed quiet on timing. Until he picks, the rest of the league, Haliburton included, is left waiting on an answer that clearly isn't coming to Indiana.