Indiana Pacers fans have a new reason to celebrate: Tyrese Haliburton gave encouraging updates on his injury.
The 25-year-old point guard was a guest co-host on LeBron James‘ Mind the Game podcast, and it was during the conversation that Haliburton confirmed his limitations, but also the great progress he has made in recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, suffered early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tyrese reveals progress and frustrations
The Pacers star will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season and is not expected to return to action until at least the 2026-27 season, the team confirmed after his surgery.
However, in eight months of rehabilitation, Haliburton’s progress has been remarkable: “I feel really good, my body feels good,” he said. In fact, he has been able to return to the court and play 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 against members of the coaching staff and other teammates, such as Bennedict Mathurin, but he quickly noticed his limitations as well:
“The other day, we had like the low-minute guys come and play with us… So, I’m guarding Ben. First play, he comes down, he shoots a three. And they’re like, ‘Go at him.’ And he’s like, ‘Ah, his leg.’ And I’m like, ‘Hey, bro. Like, I’m fine.’ Like, attack me like normal. I got to see where I’m at. He hesitated me one time. He was at the rim. I was still at the three-point line. I’m like, ‘I still got some time, you know? Like I still there’s still I got to give myself some grace,’” Haliburton told LeBron.
The truth is that this type of injury usually takes between 4 and 12 months of rehabilitation, according to Cambridge University Hospitals, especially for someone who performs as a high-level athlete. During this time, the process has not been easy for Tyrese:
“I’m really glad for where I am. I’m thankful for it,” he began, before adding a dose of reality: “The process has sucked, man. There have been good days and bad days. There are days when I sit there and just keep asking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ It’s hard for me to understand at this moment. But I understand that it’s allowing me to grow in different ways.”
In addition, the 25-year-old point guard has admitted that during this time, his body has changed and he has gained weight, going from 180 pounds to 210, but he plans to shed the pounds when he ‘can run again’.
Meanwhile, Hali’s absence from the Pacers is being felt. The team is last in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 11-36. They will look to add another win on Wednesday, January 29, when they host the Chicago Bulls at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Read the full article here
