Many fans realized immediately that Tyrese Haliburton may be out for all of the 2025-26 upon tearing his Achilles in the NBA finals, but many were still holding out hope.

Those hopes were dashed on Monday afternoon, as the Indiana Pacers as a team confirmed that their star would miss the entirety of next season.

Per ESPN.com:

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The Indiana Pacers confirmed Monday that star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 season after surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon.

 

"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever," Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said on Indiana's WISH-TV. "The surgery went well. It was a little higher and he gets more blood to that [as he recovers]. He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play."

 

Haliburton was injured in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last month, with the Oklahoma City Thunder going on to win the game and their first title in franchise history. Without Haliburton, the Pacers were outscored 56-43 in the second half as Oklahoma City finished off a 103-91 victory.

 

The two-time All-Star scored nine points with three 3-pointers before leaving the floor. He averaged 14 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals.

 

Haliburton, 25, averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 73 games (all starts) during the regular season and was selected All-NBA third team. He has career averages of 17.5 points, 8.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 333 games (294 starts) for the Sacramento Kings (2020-22) and Pacers.

All signs point to a 2026-27 return to the floor for the one-time Iowa State star.

Source: ESPN.com

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