Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton tears his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This new injury makes his availability for the 2025-26 season in serious question. What’s more, Haliburton displayed tremendous grit while playing through a balky calf strain he suffered during Game 5 of the Finals. Sadly, the injury happened during his effort to play all-out for his team’s championship hopes.
Haliburton was a revelation in the postseason. He continued to inspire confidence, leading the Pacers on the Finals run no one saw coming. His playoff performance included a franchise-record 197 assists. On top of that, he averaged a whopping 17.7 points and 9.0 assists per contest, confirming his place as one of the league’s elite. That was the first of his clutch shots in the final seconds of each of the four playoff rounds. This performance earned him the title of the first player in NBA history to do so in a single postseason.
Though he made his way through the pain, Haliburton was determined to play in the final. He’ll be back sooner rather than later. He said it best himself—even if I can walk, I want to play. The day prior to Game 7, he conceded that his leg was “still stiff and still sore.” It was a dramatic moment that made perhaps the most clear what the playoffs had done to his body.
During that Game 7, Haliburton’s fate was sealed as he ruptured his Achilles tendon. He was helped off the floor to the locker room, unable to put any weight on his leg. Both Iverson’s and Woodson’s faces were covered in towels. Following his injury, he remained near his family for the duration of the game. Rebels fans cheered him from afar, their welcome roaring through the locker room as he saw the Pacers come oh so close to winning his elusive trophy.
“Tyrese authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. He further emphasized Haliburton’s unique achievement by noting, “It was something that no one’s ever seen and did it as one of 17. You know, that’s the beautiful thing about him: As great a player as he is, it’s always a team thing.”
As Haliburton prepares to consider surgical alternatives for his injury, his future availability to the Pacers enters a period of uncertainty. His team will certainly be counting on him for leadership and mental toughness as they head into this unexpected challenge.
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