HoopsHype Ranks Tyrese Haliburton Outside of Top 5 NBA Point Guards After Achilles Tear

HoopsHype ranked Tyrese Haliburton seventh among NBA point guards for 2026-27. He has not played since June 22, 2025.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished first, followed by Luka Dončić, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, and Tyrese Maxey. Stephen Curry ranked sixth, one spot ahead of Haliburton. Andrew Nembhard was among the four players listed as just missing the cut.

Haliburton is signed for $48,924,624 this season, ranked 23rd among NBA salaries.

Sacramento picked him 12th in 2020 from Iowa State and traded him to Indiana during his second season. He broke out in 2022-23, averaging 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists with 49.0/40.0/87.1 shooting, earning his first All-Star at age 22. Next season, he led the league with 10.9 assists per game, scored 20.1 points, and made his first All-NBA team. In December, he had back-to-back games with at least 20 points and 20 assists, including a career-high 23 assists, a feat only one other Pacer has achieved once.

Usage decreased in 2024-25 alongside Pascal Siakam. Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists over 73 games. He shot 47.3% from the field and 38.8% from three-point range. His 1.6 turnovers per game were a career low. 

Between 2020-21 and 2024-25, he ranked fourth in total assists in the NBA with 2,947, behind only Trae Young, James Harden, and Nikola Jokić.

Haliburton averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists over 23 games as Indiana reached the Finals. He made the game-winning shot in Game 1 against Oklahoma City, earning the nickname The Moment for his clutch plays.

He tore his right Achilles in the first quarter of Game 7 without contact. Surgery was done the next day, costing his 2025-26 season.

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard would not jeopardize the recovery, he said in comments reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

"He will not play next year though," Pritchard said.

Rehab went as planned until February, when Haliburton was diagnosed with facial shingles, causing his eye to swell almost shut. Medication led to weight gain. Before that, he was progressing like Jayson Tatum after a similar injury.

"I definitely feel like I will be at the same level, if not better," Haliburton said.

He played five-on-five for the first time on April 8. In June he posted week 48 of his post-surgery program.

Haliburton feels great, he said twice on The Pat McAfee Show in July.

"Shingles is basically behind me now, for the most part," Haliburton explained.

Haliburton is playing pickup again. A report this month cited unnamed sources on his health, which he addressed at the Pacers' practice facility.

"I am the source. I am healthy right now," Haliburton said.

The Indiana Pacers went 19-63 without him. Only Washington finished worse.

Haliburton has been selected for two All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams. He celebrated his 26th birthday in February.

Training camp starts on Sept. 29. Indiana's regular season begins on Oct. 21 with a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, followed by the home opener on Oct. 23 against Dallas.