Tyrese Haliburton to Miss Entire 2025-26 NBA Season After Achilles Surgery

Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, the team confirmed this week. 

The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the first quarter of Game 7 in the NBA Championship Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder last month, a blow that not only ended his season but also dashed Indiana’s hopes of securing their first-ever NBA title.

Haliburton collapsed to the floor without contact while driving to the basket early in the deciding game. He was visibly in pain and needed assistance to leave the court. The Pacers went on to lose the game 103-91, marking a heartbreaking end to an otherwise historic campaign.

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard confirmed Haliburton’s status during an interview with WISH-TV. “The surgery went well,” he said. “He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardise that now. So don’t get any hopes up that he will play.”

Haliburton, a two-time All-Star, was a vital cog of Indiana’s resurgence this past season. He averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 73 regular-season games. During the NBA Finals, he played through pain — notably pushing through a calf strain sustained in Game 5 — and still managed to average 14 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the series.

The injury places Haliburton among a growing list of high-profile stars to suffer Achilles tears during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard also endured similar injuries, adding to concerns about the toll the post-season intensity takes on elite players. 

The severity of an Achilles tear typically requires a lengthy recovery, often sidelining athletes for a year or more, as was the case with Kevin Durant, who missed the 2019-20 season after sustaining the same injury in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Despite the setback, the Pacers remain confident in Haliburton’s long-term future. “We’re committed to his full recovery,” Pritchard said. “Tyrese is the heart of this team, and we believe he will be back better than ever.”

For now, Indiana will look to reshape its strategy heading into the 2025-26 season without their star playmaker, a challenge that may define their path forward in the Eastern Conference.