Tyrese Haliburton’s Recovery Gains Momentum

On Wednesday, Tyrese Haliburton announced a significant milestone in his recovery journey.

In a post on X, the Pacers star revealed that he participated in 5-on-5 drills for the first time since June. “Today we played 5-on-5 for the first time since June,” he wrote, accompanied by a praying hands emoji.

Haliburton, 26, is bouncing back from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered during Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals. While he’s been rehabbing, the two-time All-Star has been supporting his team by attending Pacers games and exploring other interests off the court.

Interestingly, as noted by “The Athletic,” he has delved into DJing, collaborated on Puma’s sneaker line, and even livestreamed with his brother.

Fans reacted enthusiastically to the news of his return to the court. One fan expressed excitement: “I’ll be back for more, even more than before.” Another cheered, “Let’s gooooooooo!” A third chimed in with a hopeful prediction: “Comeback abs are going to be special.”

ESPN Sports Talk host Pat McAfee also shared his enthusiasm on social media following Haliburton’s update.

The Pacers have struggled this season without Haliburton, descending from one of the league’s top teams to a disappointing 18-61 record—marking the second-worst performance in the NBA as they now vie for a lottery spot. They’re on track to achieve their lowest winning percentage ever, currently sitting at .228.

Haliburton faced additional challenges earlier in the season too, as he was diagnosed with shingles in late February, which kept him off the team for several weeks.

He returned to the Pacers bench on March 25 and will be looking forward to traveling to Brooklyn for their next game, followed by three concluding games of the season at home against the 76ers and Pistons.