What happened: Before Friday's 7 p.m. ET tipoff, the seventh-year guard addressed the arena crowd to thank supporters on behalf of his teammates, coaches, and the organization. Haliburton also signed custom shoes prior to taking the floor for the 2026-27 regular-season debut.

Why it matters: Friday's appearance completes his preseason ramp-up after checking in for Media Day in late September. Reintegrating the primary playmaker stabilizes the starting backcourt as the 2026-27 regular season begins.

What to watch: Haliburton's minutes distribution and on-ball workload will be monitored through the opening week of the schedule.