Tyrese Halliburton never thought he’d be coming back from Game 7 of the NBA Finals in a wheelchair, but Indiana fans greeted him warmly when he returned home.
As he emerged from the team plane at Indianapolis International Airport, the crowd erupted. They cheered and shouted for Halliburton, who was in a wheelchair due to a severe Achilles injury he sustained during the first quarter of the 103-91 loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
WTHR captured the moment on video, showing fans applauding, ringing cowbells, and showing their support as he passed by.
Although he appeared somewhat grumpy and possibly still in pain, Halliburton waved appreciatively at those who came to cheer him on.
He started Game 7 strong, hitting three three-pointers early, but the injury cut his performance short.
This injury marked a disappointing end to what had been an impressive playoff run for Halliburton.
During the Indiana playoffs, he had scored the winning points in all four series games. These included a tight layup in Game 5 against the Bucks, a crucial stepback three-pointer in Game 2 against the Cavs, a miraculous shot in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, and, of course, the game-winner against the Thunder.
Despite earlier concerns about his health due to calf tension in Game 5, Halliburton managed to play through it in Game 6, helping secure a big win. He seemed to find his rhythm again at the start of Game 7.
But it’s hard not to wonder what might have happened had he stayed healthy throughout the game.
The recovery timeline from an Achilles injury can often stretch to 8-10 months, leaving uncertainty about Halliburton’s status for next season.
