Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton addressed reporters for the first time since rupturing his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals during Pacers media day on Monday.
“It’s coming along. I feel like I’m right on cue, right where I’m supposed to be at this point,” Haliburton said. “Just taking it one day at a time. It’s a monotonous thing—every day feels like you’re doing the same thing over and over.”
Haliburton, 25, played a pivotal role in Indiana’s historic playoff run, hitting multiple circus shots and leading the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years. He described his summer as “a drag” but remains optimistic about his progress.
“He’s right on pace where he needs to be,” said Pacers GM Chad Buchanan. “He’s going through the typical rehab procedure with an Achilles, which can be kind of monotonous and tedious, but it’s part of the long-term growth of getting yourself back healthy.”
Haliburton averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 23 playoff games in 2025 and was named to the NBA All-NBA Third Team for the second consecutive season.
Despite Haliburton’s absence, Buchanan emphasized that the Pacers’ season is far from lost:
“We’d never wish away a season. We’ve got so many opportunities for some players on our team that weren’t there before. This team has shown that they come together when people doubt them. We’re still going to have a lot of the same identity. I wouldn’t put a limit on anything for this year.”
Haliburton remains focused on his recovery, hoping that the rehab process will allow him to approach the game in new ways once he returns to the court.