Tyrese Haliburton reveals the circumstances of his Achilles injury in NBA Finals

Tyrese Haliburton has broken his silence. The Indiana Pacers point guard spoke publicly for the first time since his Achilles tendon rupture during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City Thunder. In an interview with ESPN’s « Pat McAfee Show », the 24-year-old detailed the circumstances that led to this dramatic injury.

Tyrese Haliburton via @PatMcAfeeShow

« After game 2 I had an MRI & there was just some swelling..

In game 5 I felt a pull in the back of my calf & I had a calf strain..My calf wasn’t even bothering me after game 6…

I felt great going into game 7 & then that happens » pic.twitter.com/iKigT1WtuI

— HaliMuse (@hali_muse) July 22, 2025

A calf injury that triggered everything

Haliburton felt « terrific » after Game 1, but experienced discomfort in his leg during Game 2. A reassuring MRI followed, before a calf injury occurred in Game 5, with no impact for Game 6.

« After Game 6, I tell myself ‘it’s over, it’s gone, adrenaline will carry me, I’ll be good’, » Haliburton shared. « Before Game 7, I feel nothing. I feel great going into the game, » he recounts. « That’s probably why I had such a great start: my body was responding well. Then obviously, everything changes at the end. »

Shooting 3/4 from three-point range in 7 minutes, he had helped the Pacers lead 14-10 before his season came to an abrupt end with a right Achilles tendon rupture.

« Injuries are sometimes just bad luck »

Asked about the increase in Achilles tendon injuries in the NBA last season – he was the seventh player affected and the third during playoffs – Haliburton refuses to seek complex explanations. « I think there’s this notion when guys get injured or when it happens so many times that everyone thinks they have the answer to why it happens, » he stated. « Everyone thinks we play too many games, too many minutes, all these things could be true but I don’t think that’s what causes these injuries. »

A month after his surgery, Haliburton still moves around on a scooter. Out for the entire 2025-2026 season, he aims to return in 2026-2027 and plans to use this time to develop his game vision alongside Coach Carlisle, while supporting his teammates from the bench.