Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals may have forever changed the trajectory of Tyrese Haliburton following his Achilles tear. However, the Indiana Pacers star did not have second thoughts following the unfortunate event.
Haliburton suffered the ill-fated injury midway through the first quarter. He knocked down three 3-pointers as he was on pace for an incredible Game 7 performance for the Pacers. However, the injury ended his time on the court and will sideline him for the entirety of the 2025-26 season as he makes a full recovery.
He appeared as a guest on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast on Aug. 26, via NBC Sports. They went over multiple topics, including the Achilles injury, his viral nickname, and his Team USA journey in the 2024 Olympics among others.
Haliburton revealed that he had conversations with family and friends about not playing after Game 5 due to the calf strain he was managing at the time. Despite their advice, he went on to call Kevin Durant, who went through a similar situation in the 2019 NBA Finals. He asked him about what he would do, as the veteran star’s answer confirmed his original line of thinking.
“I had some close friends, family, and mentors in my life call me after Game 5 and say, ‘Hey, shut it down,’” Haliburton said, via NBC Sports.
“Do you wish you would have taken that advice?” the interviewer asked.
“No. Hell no. Hell no. I’ll be honest—I called KD after I got my MRI after Game 5. I said, ‘Bro, do you regret playing in the game you tore [your Achilles]?’ He said, ‘No, not at all.’ He said, ‘You never…’ I was like, ‘Alright.’ Yeah, I wasn’t going to switch anyway, so I’m glad he said that. It made me feel a little bit better. But no, I don’t regret it, bro,” Haliburton replied.
What Lies Ahead For Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
GettyTyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Tyrese Haliburton to play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Considering the stakes was at a winner-take-all level, it made sense for him to not have second thoughts on playing in the crucial contest.
Throughout the NBA Finals, Haliburton averaged 14 points, 5.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 45.7% from the field, including 35.6% from beyond the arc, and 100% from the free-throw line.
Even though the stats don’t show it, he nearly led the Pacers to winning the title. While he had Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard significantly helping him on the scoring front, he showcased the leadership Indiana needed to make their matchup against the Thunder a thrilling seven-game series.
It could have gone their way if Haliburton doesn’t suffer the Achilles tear. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as the Pacers lost their momentum as Game 7 progressed, seeing the Thunder take control in the second half and win the series.
In the meantime, Haliburton will use all of next year to return to the form he was at. After that, he will get to work on helping the Pacers return to serious contention for the championship. Despite what he went through in Game 7, he shows no regrets at all.
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