Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has sustained a torn right Achilles tendon, according to a report Monday by Shams Charania of The Athletic. The All-Star guard suffered the injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton was playing through a right calf strain during the Finals and went down early in the decisive game, exiting after just over seven minutes of action.
The Pacers were defeated 103–91 by Oklahoma City, who secured their first title since relocating from Seattle in 2008.
Haliburton finished the 2024-25 postseason averaging 17.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds across 23 games. He played 73 games in the regular season, averaging 18.6 points and 9.2 assists on 47.3% shooting.
The injury drew national attention even before the official diagnosis. Dr. Brian Sutterer, a board-certified sports medicine physician, posted an analysis of the incident on YouTube, identifying classic signs of an Achilles rupture based on the mechanics of Haliburton’s fall.
According to Sutterer, the injury likely occurred when Haliburton pushed off his right foot with the ankle dorsiflexed, placing immense tension on the Achilles tendon. A visible recoil of the calf muscle was noted in replays — a typical indicator of tendon rupture.
The Pacers initially listed Haliburton with a calf strain, but the updated diagnosis confirms deeper damage. Sutterer questioned the initial designation, suggesting the injury may have been underreported during the Finals run.
Comparisons have been made to Kevin Durant’s 2019 Achilles tear, which was also preceded by a calf strain. Medical experts have warned about the heightened risk of tendon rupture when athletes attempt to return from soft-tissue injuries prematurely.
Haliburton’s likely recovery timeline ranges from 9 to 12 months, potentially sidelining him for the entire 2025-26 season.
Indiana finished fourth in the Eastern Conference this season with a 50–32 record and led the league in assists per game. Haliburton was a major contributor to that offensive success.
Haliburton signed a five-year, $260 million extension with Indiana last offseason. The deal includes escalators that would elevate the value to $270 million if All-NBA criteria are met.
