Game 7 of the NBA Finals was supposed to be the defining moment of Tyrese Haliburton’s career and a celebration of how far the Indiana Pacers had come and how central he was to their improbable Finals run.
Instead, it ended in heartbreak. Just minutes into the first quarter, Haliburton collapsed in pain. The sight stunned fans and silenced the arena as Haliburton left the court limping and crying. A day later, with Achilles surgery behind him and a long road ahead, Haliburton finally found the words to open up.
Tyrese Haliburton Resolute to Run It Back for Indiana Amid Heartbreak
In a deeply personal message posted on X, the 25-year-old Pacers star laid bare the emotional toll of what he called “the most painful letdown” of his life, which is tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
His post wasn’t polished but raw, real, and, above all, heartbreaking.
“Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable,” Haliburton wrote. “I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.”
This was coming from a player at the height of his career, finally on the league’s biggest stage, suddenly seeing it ripped away. Haliburton averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 23 games in the 2025 playoffs, pushing his team to the NBA Finals.
He continued:
“Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I’m going to ‘come back stronger.’ What a cliche lol, this sh*t sucks. My foot feels like dead weight fam. But what’s hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through. It feels good to let this shit out without y’all seeing the kid ugly cry.”
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025
There’s no bravado here, only honesty. Haliburton admits to crying. He admits to being shaken, but even in the lowest moment of his career, he still finds his voice as a leader.
“At 25, I’ve already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I’ll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player,” he added. “Honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers.”
Haliburton’s sense of responsibility to Indiana echoed throughout the post. The Pacers were on the brink of making history as they made it to the NBA finals after 25 long years, but slipped at the last moment. Haliburton’s apology to the fan base felt deeply personal.
“Indy, I’m sorry. If any fan base doesn’t deserve this, it’s y’all,” he wrote. “But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle.”
Haliburton’s Injury Crushed Pacers’ Hopes in Painful Game 7 Loss
Haliburton’s injury came at the worst time. He had already been playing through a calf strain since Game 5 but showed no signs of slowing down. In game 7, he was 3-of-4 from deep and had scored nine points when he slipped at the 4:55 mark of the first quarter, flinching in pain, and had to leave the court afterward.
Without their star, who has owned the clutch moments and often turned the tide for the Pacers, they lost the Finals 103-81 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His father, John Haliburton, often a visible courtside presence, confirmed afterward that it was an Achilles injury. The silence from the crowd as Haliburton was helped off the court said it all. Teammates surrounded him, stunned, and the face of the franchise, Haliburton, was in tears.
And while recovery from a torn Achilles is long and grueling, Haliburton is already mentally preparing for the climb.
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“I don’t ‘have to’ go through this, I get to go through this. I’m grateful for the road that lies ahead,” he wrote. “Watch how I come back from this.”
In referencing Kobe Bryant’s famous words after suffering the same injury, Haliburton grounded his pain in perspective and purpose.
“There are far greater issues/challenges in the world than a torn Achilles,” he quoted. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work.”
Lastly, Haliburton put his trust in God for his swift recovery and coming back strong, quoting Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
For Haliburton, the road forward won’t be easy. But from the sound of it, he’s already laced up for the long haul.
