Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton opened up about how Kevin Durant helped him during his injury recovery.
Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton last played in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals following a torn Achilles.
Without Haliburton for all of last season, the Pacers faltered, winning just 19 games during the year. But the star is ready to get back on the court, and he has been waiting for this moment.
It has been a long road to recovery for Haliburton, but he hasn't been alone during it. The Pacers star opened up about Houston Rockets star forward Kevin Durant and how he helped him.
According to Haliburton, Durant flew to Indianapolis to visit Haliburton after he suffered his injury. This meant the world to the Pacers star, with one of the greatest to play the game honoring him.
"When I got hurt, KD flew to Indy to visit me," Haliburton said. "He was out there for All-Star, but he came early to come see me. Came to my crib. He was chilling with my dog, throwing the toy with my dog, like, to check on me."
The Rockets star suffered a torn Achilles of his own years ago, so he understood what Haliburton had to deal with. But this gesture of support went a long way for the Pacers star.
Durant and Haliburton played together on Team USA during the Olympics in 2024. The two became much closer, and Durant has been a mentor for the Pacers star since.
Haliburton grew up idolizing players like Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry, all of which checked in on him after his injury. The Pacers star took this as a sign of respect, even if the vast majority of fans don't view him in the same star tier as some other players.
"If those guys respect me, I don't give a sh*t shat anybody else thinks," Haliburton said.
This year, Haliburton is looking forward to proving himself once again on the court. Haliburton wants to get the Pacers back to being a top team in the Eastern Conference, and the support from some of the other stars has helped with everything.
"That's what I really value and what I really care about from people that I love and I respect," Haliburton said. "That's what matters to me."
The mental side of the injury was a challenge for Haliburton, but this season could be even more special for the star guard. The Pacers will begin their quest to get back to the NBA Finals on October 21 against the New Orleans Pelicans
