Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton Knew He Could Tear Achilles in Game 7 vs Thunder

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton knew he could tear his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Despite the risk, there was no way Haliburton wasn't going to play. 

This is why Pacers fans love Haliburton. He literally risked his health to win a championship. You will never find a Pacers fan who has anything negative to say about Hali. 

Haliburton didn't play for the Pacers this season. Without their best player, Indiana won only 19 games.

Haliburton signed a five-year, $244 million extension with the Pacers in July 2023. The talented floor general will make $48,924,624 next season, $52,298,736 in 2027-28 and $55,672,848 in 2028-29, the final year of his deal.  

One of the top players in the NBA, Haliburton had an outstanding 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 acquired Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in the February 2022 Domantas Sabonis trade. 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 regular-season 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.

The Zubac trade did come at a high cost, though. The Pacers lost their first-round pick in the 2026 draft because of the Zubac deal. 

The Pacers needed to land in the top four to keep their pick after trading it to the Clippers with protections for Zubac. The trade sent two of Indiana's first-round picks to the Clippers: one in 2029 and either this year's first if it fell outside of the top four or a 2031 unprotected first-rounder if it did not.

Because the Washington Wizards moved up in the lottery, Indiana landed fifth, so the pick went to the Clippers instead.

The Pacers could have drafted AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. Instead, they have to pray that Zubac plays like an All-Star next season alongside Siakam and Haliburton.

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