Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is not expected to play in the 2025-26 season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, but he’s getting closer to game shape.
He just might need to shed a few pounds first.
Haliburton, 25, appeared on the Tuesday, January 27, episode of LeBron James’ “Mind The Game” podcast, where he gave an update on his rehab following the devastating injury he sustained in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
“I understand it is allowing me to grow in different ways,” he said of his injury. “That’s something I’m really trying to focus on through my rehab, through my time to get back: Being more physical. Like, bro, I’m up today. I was 180 pounds on Game 7 day. I’m 210 right now. Like, I’m up 30 pounds bro.”
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Haliburton explained that his weight gain is at least partially intentional. Watching from the sidelines has allowed him to view the game differently, taking parts of other players’ games and applying them to his own. One thing he realized was he needed to be more physical in order to get to the free throw line more often.
The rest of that weight gain can be attributed to some extra snacking. Those pounds will come off as his rehab continues to ramp up.
“Obviously when I start to run I’m gonna get that off,” he told James, 41. “Some of that’s not good because I’ve been drowning my sorrows in cookies and ice cream and stuff.”
While any injury that causes an athlete to miss significant time could be tough on his or her psyche, Haliburton’s was especially brutal, coming in a losing effort in the deciding game of the NBA Finals and forcing him out of the entire next season.
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Seven months later, Haliburton has found peace amid his rehab.
“I really am glad for where I am. I’m thankful for it,” he said. “The process has sucked. There’s been good days, bad days, there’s days where I sit there and I keep asking ‘why is this happening to me?’ It’s hard for me to understand in this moment, but I understand it’s allowing me to grow in different ways: to grow in my faith, to grow in all these ways that are good for me.”
On the court, he is back to playing pick-up, but as he humorously explained to James, he has a long way to go before he’s back to peak form
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“I just started playing 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 full court,” he said. “That’s been good to be with the [player development] interns and stuff. It’s been funny because as I’ve started playing with the interns and [assistant coach] Jannero Pargo. I’m like, ‘Ooh, I can play in an NBA game right now’”
He continued, “I’m guarding [Bennedict Mathurin]… He hesi’d me one time. He was at the rim, I was still at the 3-point line. I was like, ‘Ohhh.’ I still got some time.”
The Pacers have struggled mightily without Haliburton this season. As of Wednesday, January 28, Indiana is 11-36, the worst record in the NBA. Though this season may be a lost cause, that could put the Pacers in position next year to bring Haliburton back in 2026-27 alongside one of the top NBA Draft picks.