During an interview with NBA writer Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton opened up about his Achilles rehab.
Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He will miss the 2025-26 season.
“I’m just going to do my best to get back to being who I am,” Haliburton said. “That’s the biggest thing for me. I’m really working my tail off to get my body right and get back healthy, and I will have a significant amount of time to do that. The goal is to get back to being who I am and beyond that.”
A two-time All-Star, Haliburton believes Andrew Nembhard will take his game to another level next season for the Pacers in his absence. Nembhard’s usage will be a career-high in 2025-26 since Haliburton won’t play and Myles Turner left Indiana for the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Everyone is going to step up in some way,” Haliburton said. “I’m excited to see Andrew Nembhard slide into becoming the full-time point guard with me out. Everyone’s role grows with me out, I don’t think it’s a thing where we have to replace me necessarily, but everybody’s role increases. … There are a lot of guys, but Andrew is who I’m most excited to watch filling in at my position. I’ll be trying to help as much as I can.”
Haliburton knows everyone is sleeping on the Pacers since he’s injured and Turner is gone. He believes Indiana thrives more when doubters arrive.
“The proof is in the pudding,” Tyrese Haliburton said. “It’s never worked well for people to write us off in general. I don’t think that changes just because I’m not playing. We have a lot of young, hungry guys who have had success the last couple years.
“That success and chase for excellence is the standard within our organization. Nobody should expect us to lay down and not continue to fight and be the scrappy Pacers we are. I’m excited to watch what we do, and if people are doubting us they are going to have to continue being proven wrong.”