The moment Tyrese Haliburton limped off the court in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the heartbreak was instant — and now, the full weight of it has set in.
Through Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard, Indiana confirmed that its All-Star point guard will miss the entire 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon.
Pacers president Kevin Pritchard has confirmed that Tyrese Haliburton will not play during the 2025-26 season as he recovers from his Achilles tear.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 7, 2025
"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever," Pritchard said. "He will not play next year though. We would not…
"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever. He will not play next year, though. We would not jeopardize that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play," Pritchard said during a media availability session.
It’s a brutal blow for both Haliburton and a Pacers franchise riding a wave of momentum. The 25-year-old guard had become the engine of Indiana’s resurgence, averaging 18.6 points, and 9.2 assists, earning All-NBA Third Team honors.
His mix of joy, creativity, and competitiveness reenergized the fan base and propelled the Pacers to their first Finals appearance since 2000.
Despite being hobbled, Haliburton still managed to average 14 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the Finals. He had nine points and knocked down three triples before exiting Game 7, as the Pacers were outscored 56-43 in the second half and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away for a 103-91 win to claim their first championship.
[ALSO READ: Rick Carlisle confident Tyrese Haliburton will recover from suspected Achilles injury: 'He’ll be back in time']
Still, there were no regrets.
"And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it,” Haliburton wrote in a social media post on X, formerly as Twitter, after surgery. “I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special.”
[ALSO READ: Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton vows to 'do everything to get back right' after Achilles surgery]
That loyalty and selflessness only deepened the franchise’s respect for its star.
“It just shows you what kind of kid he is,” Pritchard said. “If you’re asking me, would I have him do it over and over? I would not. I would not. If I knew that he was going to get hurt, I would sacrifice that game because I care for the kid so much and want him to have an incredible career.”
That career, it seems, is now on pause. But in Indiana, no one is counting Haliburton out.
