Tyrese Haliburton, star point guard for the Indiana Pacers, will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon.
Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed the news when speaking to the media after the team’s Summer League practice on July 7.
The 25-year-old suffered the injury during the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder last month, a game the Pacers lost 103-91, ending their hopes of a first NBA title.
Haliburton, who had been instrumental in the Pacers’ impressive playoff run, collapsed without contact while attempting to drive to the basket.
The injury was immediately concerning, and he was helped off the court in visible distress.
The Achilles rupture follows a troubling trend of similar injuries during the 2025 playoffs, which also sidelined high-profile players like Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Pritchard confirmed the length of Haliburton’s absence, stating that the surgery was successful, but the point guard will not return for the upcoming season.
“We would not jeopardise that now,” Pritchard said, expressing hope that Haliburton would return stronger in the future.
During the 2024-25 season, Haliburton played a crucial role in the Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals, averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
His performances in the playoffs, where he averaged 14 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds, were pivotal to the Pacers’ success, and his absence next season is a significant blow to the team.
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025
Despite the setback, Pacers President remained optimistic about Haliburton’s recovery, stating that he had authored one of the most remarkable individual playoff runs in recent history.
However, with no clear timeline for his return, Haliburton’s future remains uncertain.
The injury has raised concerns across the league, particularly after the high number of Achilles injuries suffered in the playoffs.
Teams are increasingly looking into methods to prevent these serious injuries, as they continue to impact key players’ careers.
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