Tyrese Haliburton thought he was in the clear for Game 7. Then, snap. 'That happening definitely sucked'

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Tyrese Haliburton knew going into Game 7 of the NBA Finals an Achilles tendon tear was the worst-case scenario on the list of things he was risking by playing through a calf strain.

The Pacers' two-time All-NBA point guard knew what sensation to expect if that were to occur, so when he tried to drive but instead crumpled to the ground with 5:02 to go in the first quarter, he knew exactly what he was in for.

"There was definitely a cause of concern that that could happen," Haliburton said Tuesday on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show in his first public interview since the injury and the Pacers' loss. "You always hear people who have this injury say it feels like somebody kicked you in the back of the leg. It's not the most painful thing, but it does feel like if you let some elementary-age kid just come up and line you up like a kickball and just kick you in the back of the leg. That's what it feels like. When I went down, I knew right away what had happened."

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And Haliburton said at the moment he wasn't thinking about all the work he'd put into helping the Pacers reach the NBA Finals and all the rehab that was coming as he will miss all the 2025-26 season. His emotions came from just knowing he wouldn't be able to close out Game 7 after hitting three 3-pointers to start the game.

"I think I was just hurt that I wasn't going to be out there," Haliburton said. "I think it was all those emotions coming at once, but I wasn't thinking about next year or what's led up to this. All I was thinking about was being in the moment of Game 7 and that happening definitely sucked."

The Achilles tendon tear was the culminating event in a series of lower right leg issues for Haliburton during the Finals. He was seen limping away from the podium after his news conference in Game 2. He said he was feeling some pain in the back of his leg and said he thought he was dehydrated because he generally doesn't drink enough water on gamedays. He underwent treatment leading up to the next three games but was fine until Game 5 when he fell again trying to drive past Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren. He ended up scoring just four points on 0-of-6 shooting in that game.

"Right there I felt a pull in the back of my calf," Haliburton said. "Now that's all I'm thinking about all game, that's what I'm concerned about is my leg."

The next day Haliburton had an MRI and he was told by doctors if it was the regular season he would have had to sit out a few weeks. But it was not the regular season and the Pacers were facing elimination heading into Game 6, so he wanted to play.

"I'm sitting there and I'm like, 'Well as long as you guys don't tell me absolutely you can't play, we're gonna keep you in your house,' I'm gonna play," Haliburton said. "It's the NBA Finals. What are we talking about?"

Haliburton said he had to pass a calf stress test before the Game 6 and passed. The Pacers won 108-91 and he only had to play 23 minutes in the blowout. He felt even better than he expected after Game 6 and heading into Game 7 didn't feel like he had any problems at all.

"After Game 6, I'm like 'it's done, it's gone, adrenaline is going to get to me, I'm going to be good,'" Haliburton said. "I go to Game 7, I feel nothing. I feel great going into the game. I think that's why I had a great start to the game. My body felt great. Then obviously, that happens in the end."

Haliburton said he tried walking off because when Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon in 2013, he not only walked off the floor, he also shot two free throws before the Lakers fouled to get him out of the game. He found out quickly, however, that it wasn't an option.

"I was on the ground, I was like, 'Let me walk,'" Haliburton said. "'Kobe walked. I'm walking.' So when I got up and went to take a step, there was no chance. I was like, 'Don't touch me, I'm gonna walk.' When I went to move my leg, it's like dead weight at the end of your leg. So the fact that Kobe shot a free throw and walked off is unbelievable. It's unbelievable. Certain guys have walked off, but when I went to take a step, that's when the guys threw the towel over me because my face was just like (shocked). I couldn't believe what was actually happening in the moment."

Haliburton is now four weeks past his surgery and still getting around on a motorized scooter so actual rehab on the leg is still a long way off. He has a huge support group including fellow NBA stars who either are going through the injury or have in the past. He said he's been in fairly constant contact with Kevin Durant — who tore his Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals. Durant came to Indiana to visit Haliburton at his house days ago. Haliburton has also been constantly speaking with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who tore his Achilles in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks. Tatum's timeline is a little ahead of Haliburton's but they'll both miss all of next season.

While he's still getting around on a scooter and keeping the leg mostly elevated, he's barely touched a basketball. He's been a constant presence at Fever games and was at the WNBA All-Star Game and it's associated events in Indianapolis all weekend and he's spent a lot of his time at home playing video games.

One thing he can do, however, is work on his upper body, which his helpful because Haliburton has always been slight of build and has struggled to put on muscle. All this time without basketball and without much in the way of cardio work should allow him to do that.

"I started lifting two weeks ago upper body," Haliburton said. "I'm in a hoodie, you can't tell, but I'm jacked under this hoodie. Bulking season."

Haliburton saw two teammates work their way back from Achilles tendon tears throughout last season in Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, but those two were backup centers and Haliburton is the face of the franchise. Their presence around the team was occasional until their rehab progressed to on-court work. Haliburton will want to make sure he's around the facility on and off the court as much as possible.

"I haven't even thought about what the season will call for," Haliburton said. "I probably won't be traveling as much early in the year depending on what stage of rehab I'm in. But I still want to be around the guys as much as possible. I think I want to take this time to keep growing my mind for the game. Being around coach (Rick) Carlisle. Sit in on coaches meetings. (Kevin) Pritchard, talking to those guys and helping. I feel like I have a pretty decent basketball mind myself. So I'm just trying to help the guys as best as I can. I'm going to be on the bench as soon as I can walk."

But his biggest focus, of course, is just getting back for the 2026-27 season and try to get the Pacers back to where they were.

"I'm going to fight like hell to get back and hopefully get this opportunity to win a championship again," Haliburton said. "But that's not guaranteed. That feeling definitely sits with me sometimes and that sucks, but I can't really control the past. I can't control what's to happen in the future. All I can do is just attack this rehab as best as I can and figure it out that way."

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