Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton hit some miraculous, last-second shots to carry his team all the way to the NBA Finals. But any hopes of the Pacers winning a championship were dashed the instant Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in Game 7.
Following that injury, the Pacers want Haliburton to take his time rehabbing. Team president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed Monday that Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season while dealing with the injury.
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Pritchard said the Pacers did not want to “jeopardize” further injury with Haliburton.
The news shouldn’t come as a surprise. Achilles injuries can take up to a full year to fully recover. While it’s possible Haliburton could recover faster, the team will give him plenty of time to get right.
Other athletes have come back from Achilles injuries in less time. Kirk Cousins was able to return after 11 months to start for the Atlanta Falcons last season. He struggled upon returning, however, throwing an NFL-leading 16 interceptions in just 14 games.
The Pacers won’t risk that outcome. Assuming the team sticks to its guns and keeps Haliburton out, he wouldn’t return to action until the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. If he returned to the court then, it would mark a year and a half since he appeared in a regular-season game.
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The Pacers have plenty of incentive to make sure Haliburton’s recovery goes well. The team signed Haliburton to a five-year, max extension in 2023. That extension kicked in during the 2024-25 NBA season, meaning he’s signed through the 2028-29 NBA season.
Given the length of Haliburton’s deal and his age (25), the Pacers have every incentive to make sure he’s back at 100 percent the next time he steps on the court.
The decision may hurt the Pacers next year, but the team is taking the cautious approach with its biggest star.
