Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Could Miss Entire 2025-26 Season After Achilles Surgery

Pacers’ Haliburton Could Miss All of 2025-26 Season

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a torn right Achilles tendon, with early projections suggesting he could miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season.

The 25-year-old guard suffered the injury just seven minutes into Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling to the floor without contact during a drive to the basket.

Haliburton, who was visibly in pain and had to be helped off the court, missed the rest of the game as the Pacers fell 103-91, ending their hopes of a maiden NBA title.

Pacers Confirm Surgery and Timeline

The Pacers have since confirmed that Haliburton underwent successful surgery on Monday, with an expected recovery time of 8 to 10 months — a timeline that likely rules him out for the entire 2025-26 campaign.

“Words cannot express the pain of this letdown,” Haliburton wrote on X. “I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends?”

Third Major Achilles Injury in 2025 Playoffs

Haliburton is now the third high-profile NBA player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in this year’s playoffs, following Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) and Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks).

His injury mirrors that of Kevin Durant, who missed the entire 2019-20 season after tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Despite playing through a calf strain in Game 5, Haliburton was instrumental in Indiana’s run to the finals, producing game-tying or winning shots in the dying seconds of all four playoff rounds.

Carlisle: “He Will Be Back”

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle expressed deep disappointment at the setback but praised Haliburton’s resilience and influence throughout the postseason.

“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” Carlisle said. “But he will be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.”

A Crushing End to a Breakout Season

Haliburton, a two-time All-Star, had been the heartbeat of the Pacers’ postseason charge. His leadership, clutch plays, and offensive creativity helped Indiana reach their first Finals since 2000.

His absence will be a massive blow to the Pacers’ 2025-26 plans as they look to build on a historic campaign that fell just one step short.