Tyrese Haliburton isn’t feeling overly optimistic about his recovery from Achilles injuries.
He suffered the injury while handling calf tension during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, he will miss the entire upcoming season, but he’s hoping to be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season.
“I think it will take about 15 months before I can play again,” he shared in a recent podcast, suggesting that he might be back by November 2026.
Recovering from Achilles tears is notoriously tough; athletes often take a year or more to return to competitive play.
Haliburton isn’t alone—during the playoffs, he wasn’t the only prominent player to get hurt. Jason Tatum also ran into troubles while playing at Madison Square Garden for the Celtics.
In an intense game against the Knicks, Halliburton had to push through challenges, setting a strong tone for Indiana’s success in the conference finals. His performance was pivotal for the team as they conquered opponents in the Eastern Conference.
There was uncertainty surrounding Halliburton’s participation in Game 7, yet he decided to play despite the risks tied to his Achilles injuries.
He started the final match well but unfortunately went down with an injury in the first half, impacting the Thunder’s victory.
Reflecting on it in the podcast, he expressed no regrets about his choice to play.
“I had close friends, family, and mentors who urged me to take a break, but I couldn’t. I even asked Kevin Durant if he regretted playing after tearing his Achilles, and he said he didn’t at all. I feel the same way.” He concluded, “This isn’t the end. I’m only 25.”
