Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shared a long message on social media Monday night, a day removed from his devastating Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Haliburton went down in the first quarter of the Pacers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night after his right leg gave out. He pounded on the ground and was incredibly emotional almost immediately after hitting the floor, clearly knowing what had happened.
The team quickly confirmed the injury, and he underwent surgery Monday. While the Pacers did not provide a timeline for his return, his entire 2025-26 season is potentially at risk.
“Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock,” Haliburton wrote on social media while sharing a photo of him in a hospital bed, holding up a heart sign with his hands. “Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
“Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I’m going to “come back stronger.” What a cliche lol, this s*** sucks. My foot feels like dead weight fam. But what’s hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through. It feels good to let this s*** out without y’all seeing the kid ugly cry.”
Haliburton first injured his right calf in Game 5 of the Finals, but he kept playing through the injury. He was available for Game 6 without restriction, and he led the team to a win to force Sunday’s Game 7. Even with his injured leg likely playing a part in his Achilles injury, Haliburton said he had no regrets playing through it.
“Honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it,” he wrote. “I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and for my brothers. For the chance to do something special.”
Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists throughout the regular season. He put up 14 points and 5.9 assists per game in the Finals, and he was playing some of the best basketball of his career in the postseason. He hit multiple game-tying or game-winning shots that kept the Pacers in it in each round.
The Pacers were playing in their first NBA Finals since 2000, and the franchise was looking for its first championship since the ABA-NBA merger. Though his presence on the court wouldn’t have guaranteed the Pacers a win by any means, his absence was undoubtedly felt down the stretch Sunday night.
With their incredible run ending the way it did, Haliburton apologized to Pacers fans. He also vowed to come back, whenever that is.
“Indy, I’m sorry. If any fan base doesn’t deserve this, it’s y’all,” he wrote. “But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don’t doubt for a second that y’all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours … My journey to get to where I am today wasn’t by happenstance, I’ve pushed myself every day to be great. And I will continue to do just that.
“The most important part of this all, is that I’m grateful. I’m grateful for every single experience that’s led me here. I’m grateful for all the love from the hoop world. I don’t ‘have to’ go through this, I get to go through this. I’m grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I’ll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton.”
