Tyrese Haliburton says the rise in Achilles injuries in the NBA is simply due to “bad luck”

The Indiana Pacers were recently dealt a major blow ahead of the 2025–26 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, as it has been confirmed that superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season.

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday, July 8 (Philippine Standard Time), that the team has decided to give Haliburton all the time he needs to recover and rehabilitate following surgery for a torn right Achilles tendon, which he sustained in Game 7 of the 2024–25 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Notably, seven players suffered Achilles injuries last season, with Haliburton becoming the third to sustain one during the playoffs. The star guard is currently recovering after surgery and, during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, shared his thoughts on the increase in such injuries.

Tyrese Haliburton says he tried to walk like Kobe Bryant after tearing his Achilles, but couldn’t:

“’Let me walk, Kobe walked. I’m walking.’ So, when I got up and went to take a step, there was no chance… So, the fact that Kobe shot a free throw and walked off is… pic.twitter.com/LmYS5r3gDv

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) July 23, 2025

“I think that there is a notion, when guys get injured or when this has happened so many times, that everybody thinks they have the answer to why it’s happening. Everybody thinks we play too many games, we play too many minutes — all those things could be true, but I don’t think that’s what’s causing these injuries,” Haliburton said.

“So, I don’t think anybody necessarily has the answer. I think injuries are just bad luck sometimes — and that’s just what happened. That’s just what happens in sports sometimes,” he added.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has also weighed in on the issue in the past, stating that he does not believe the number of games or increased minutes are contributing factors. He added that a majority of Achilles injuries occur in the first half of the season rather than the second.

The 25-year-old Haliburton also revealed that he has spoken with superstars Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, who have suffered similar injuries. Durant tore his Achilles during the 2019 NBA Finals, while Tatum sustained his injury just weeks before Haliburton.

With Haliburton sidelined for the entire 2025–26 season, he shared that he plans to use the time to “grow his mind for the game.”

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