Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton missed all of this season rehabbing his Achilles tear. How will he look next season?
A former Indiana Pacers star expects Tyrese Haliburton to look like his old self next season after not playing this season because of his Achilles tendon tear.
Metta World Peace, who won the 2003-04 Defensive Player of the Year Award with the Pacers, believes Haliburton will play like an All-Star next season.
"Yes, he will be his old self," World Peace told Hard Rock Bet. "He's had other injuries before, but this is his first major injury, so I think he will be fine. Kevin Durant tore his Achilles. He came back from that and is still playing really well. Haliburton is also younger than Durant was when he suffered that injury.
"People get hurt. They come back. Michael Jordan suffered a serious foot injury early in his career, and he did okay. Right now, Jayson Tatum is back playing well after having the same injury as Haliburton. There are a lot of examples. Haliburton has had the entire season to recover, and he'll have the offseason too. So, he's had more than enough time. He'll come back with the same speed, and his body will be well-rested.
"The technology today is also great, and guys get more rest. When we played, even 18-year veterans were practicing hard, for the most part. But the recovery side of things and the science are a lot better today. It allows players to recover faster and better than we did. I know sometimes people say the players of today are more athletic, but I disagree. I don’t think they’re much more athletic. I think it’s quite even, but the technology and science they have is far greater than what we had."
One of the top players in the NBA, Haliburton had a fantastic 2024-25 campaign for the Pacers. He averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game and made the All-NBA Third Team.
Indiana beat the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks to advance to the 2025 NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Pacers in the NBA Finals in seven games. Haliburton, of course, tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7.
Without Haliburton, the Pacers struggled mightily this season. They won only 19 games.
The 26-year-old Haliburton signed a five-year, $244 million extension with the Pacers in July 2023. Indiana acquired Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in the Domantas Sabonis trade in February 2022. Haliburton is averaging 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in a Pacers uniform.
A two-time All-Star, Haliburton has played in 333 games with the Kings and Pacers. He has career averages of 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers at this year's trade deadline. Zubac, Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will be the Pacers' "Big 3" next season.
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