‘True Champion’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Checked on Injured Tyrese Haliburton After Game 7

Tyrese Haliburton could not build on his stellar opening performance in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals after tearing his Achilles.

‘True Champion’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Checked on Injured Tyrese Haliburton After Game 7

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checked in on Tyrese Haliburton after Game 7 (Image via FirstSportz)

When Tyrese Haliburton went down screaming in pain early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, one of the first players to console him was Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The league MVP knew in that instant that his counterpart was not going to play basketball anytime soon.

It was evident from the Pacers’ guard’s cries as he was helped off the floor. Soon enough, SGA’s fears were confirmed after John Haliburton confirmed his son had torn the Achilles tendon in his right leg. It was the most disappointing end to one of the best postseason runs in history.

Gilgeous-Alexander saw his fellow point guard score game-winner after game-winner all throughout the playoffs. Then Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to even the NBA Finals and force Game 7. Then, to end that run after scoring 9 points in 7 minutes in this fashion will be heartbreaking.

After the game, the NBA Finals MVP talked about how he felt for the Pacers’ guard. He believed it was unfair, especially after the generational run he went on. New footage from the NBA revealed that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander visited Haliburton in the medical room after hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy.

That was a mark of a true champion, who wanted to ensure the 25-year-old Pacers guard was in the right spirits. It is not easy to undergo such an injury and not feel the weight of the world heavily upon one’s shoulders. That is why he was there to console him as a friend.

Tyrese Haliburton won the respect of millions

Haliburton had a good year and a half. He was instrumental in helping the Indiana Pacers push to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. But an injury stopped him from helping his team any further.

Once he recovered, he went to the Paris Olympics to help Team USA in whatever little way he could to win the gold medal. But once he returned, there were questions about his fitness and consistency. That was compounded when some of his peers gave him the ‘overrated’ tag in an online poll.

He started to change the narrative once the playoffs started and went on a run that could have ended up in the history books. Even though he fell short in the most heartbreaking manner possible, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes he had done enough to earn the respect of millions.

I know that you did not win this game, and I know that you are facing a long recovery. But you did win something: You won over millions of new fans. You won over the respect of everybody in this league.

Brian Windhorst said on First Take

Windhorst added that people who would never talk about Haliburton more than other NBA stars were talking about how he changed the NBA playoffs. That gave the ESPN analyst the confirmation that the 25-year-old guard had earned everyone’s respect.

Tyrese Haliburton might miss the entire 2025-26 season

Usually, an Achilles injury requires a year-long recovery schedule. Kevin Durant famously tore his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, but needed more time to recover. He essentially sat down the entirety of the 2019-20 season.

Tyrese Haliburton might not play in 2025-26 season after Achilles injury
Tyrese Haliburton might not play in 2025-26 season after Achilles injury (Image via WTHR/X)

It is possible that the Indiana Pacers can expect a similar timetable from their most important player. Rushing Tyrese Haliburton back will not do well for their long-term hopes of remaining competitive. With the advancements of medical science, he can return sooner.

However, it seems unlikely that the Iowa State alum will pick up a basketball throughout the entire 2025-26 season. The risks of not allowing the injury to fully recover are greater than trying to return to the Finals next season.

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