Ever since Tyrese Haliburton went down in Game 7 of the NBA Finals with an Achilles injury, there was serious doubt whether the Indiana Pacers' star would be able to play at all next season. Now, the team and President Kevin Pritchard specifically have made it official. Hali will be out for all of 2025-26.
"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever," Pritchard said Monday. "He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play."
Of course, this somber update helps Pacers fans begin to come to the realization of what next season will likely look like. Making it back to the playoffs is now going to become a much more difficult task without their leader out there.
It's hard not to admire Tyrese's grit in the 2025 playoffs. You can say all you want that it wasn't smart to play on the strained calf in the Finals, but at the end of the day, he did everything he could to give his team a shot at a championship.
Haliburton "will not play" at all next season
Haliburton made his stance on this clear last month. “I'd do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers,” he posted to social media. His leadership has never been in question. His will to win had never been stronger. But for the Pacers’ front office, the toll of that final effort has introduced a hard truth. There is no shortcut to recovery from an injury like this. And there is no way to spin the reality that their All-NBA guard will not be available this year.
Haliburton’s absence will be felt across every possession. His skills as a floor general during the regular season anchored Indiana’s fast-paced offense. His passing vision and unselfishness made teammates better, and just his presence on the floor dictated how opponents had to game plan. Without him, the Pacers lose not just production, but identity.
This update also reshapes this team's long-term outlook. While Haliburton is only 25 and expected to make a full recovery, Achilles injuries can be grueling. The team will need to invest heavily in player development this year while keeping the roster competitive enough to sustain momentum. Veteran leadership will matter more than ever, and so will lineup flexibility.
For now, all Indiana can do is wait, adjust and rally. But there's no question that the Pacers are officially entering a year they never wanted, and they'll be doing it without their most important player.