Tyrese Haliburton confirmed he is fully recovered from his Achilles tendon injury and ready to return to competitive basketball for the Indiana Pacers. The All-Star guard suffered the injury during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22, 2025, ending a historic playoff run.
What did Haliburton say about his recovery?
Haliburton explained that his physical condition at 12 months felt dramatically different from where he was at nine months into rehabilitation. He told reporters he now feels stronger than ever and is moving with confidence on the court. "My body feels great," Haliburton said via Indy Star. "I feel great moving. I feel great playing. My body just feels great in all honesty. I've never felt this strong."
Why does his return matter for the Indiana Pacers?
Before the injury, Haliburton led the Pacers past the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks and Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs. He helped push the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Game 7 in the 2025 NBA Finals before the Achilles tear. Without him, Indiana won only 19 games in the 2025-26 season. His return is expected to restore the Pacers as a playoff contender in the 2026-27 NBA season.
What comes next for Haliburton and the Pacers?
Haliburton said he is still refining his game shape but is already training at NBA level. He aims to regain the rhythm that fueled Indiana’s 2025 playoff surge. The Pacers recently lost their last four games, including a 121-133 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on April 12, 2026, and sit at 1W-0D-4L in their last five. Fans can track the team’s progress on our [fixtures](/fixtures) and [stats](/stats) pages as Haliburton works toward full integration.
He also expressed interest in the recovery of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who is recovering from the same Achilles injury under the same surgeon. Haliburton noted Jones is at nine months post-surgery and said he is eager to see how the NFL player feels in the coming months.
