Tyrese Haliburton’s Miserable 8-Week Battle with Shingles Led to ‘Haliburger’ Nickname

Tyrese Haliburton's recovery from his Achilles tear has seen him spend the entire season on the sidelines.

Tyrese Haliburton’s Miserable 8-Week Battle with Shingles Led to ‘Haliburger’ Nickname

Tyrese Haliburton is battling face shingles (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Tyrese Haliburton has been battling shingles for eight weeks, causing significant discomfort and weight gain.
  • He revealed his struggles included swollen facial features and nerve pain, impacting his daily life.
  • Haliburton criticized the NBA's 65-game rule, initially calling it "dumb," but later acknowledged its necessity after discussions with the league.

Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton has experienced the highs and lows of both his basketball career and his personal life over the past calendar year.

Last April, May, and then in June, the point guard was draining clutch shot after clutch shot while leading his team to the 2025 NBA Finals.

Then, in Game 7, his basketball season ended with him banging on the floor as he was lying writhing in pain. Tearing his Achilles tendon meant that he would miss the entire 2025-26 season.

In the meantime, he went down on one knee and slipped a ring onto his girlfriend Jade Jones‘ finger. That was him balancing his professional and personal lives in the manner he knew best.

On the other hand, recovery was the only thing on his and the Pacers’ minds, and they did not mind throwing away this campaign to ensure their leading superstar returned to the game the right way.

Others may have fast-tracked their recovery, but the Pacers were not interested. Now, it seems that decision was sensible considering what the 26-year-old has been struggling with of late.

I’m going on eight weeks of shingles, face shingles. I haven’t been able to get rid of it. I’ve switched my meds three times… None of it has helped. The side effect of the (new) meds is that I’m always hungry, and weight gain… Now, they are killing me on social media. I’m seeing I’m being called Tyrese Haliburger.

Tyrese Haliburton revealed on the Pat McAfee Show

This was the two-time All-Star revealing that his battle with shingles has earned him another nickname. At least this one is funny enough for him, considering the previous one was unnerving.

Tyrese Haliburton reveals the extent of his struggles with shingles

Before appearing on the show, Tyrese Haliburton spoke with reporters at the Pacers’ facilities. During that session, reporters asked him about his swollen face, and that is where he detailed how he has been suffering.

Tyrese Haliburton has gained significant weight
Tyrese Haliburton has gained significant weight (Image via Pacers/X)

I’ve lost part of my eyebrow, my eyes are always swollen from itching it. I’ve good days and bad days, but for the most part, it’s the bad days. It has not been any fun… I’ve been taking unbelievable amounts of medication to try to get rid of it. It hasn’t worked.

Tyrese Haliburton told reporters

It seems it was a good thing not to play basketball after all. Had the Indiana Pacers fast-tracked his return, and if they had made it to the playoffs, Haliburton might not have been in a position to play.

His body weight and constant itching would have made it nearly impossible for him to be as effective as the version of the point guard who sent playoff hopefuls home with his ice-cold late-game heroics.

Tyrese Haliburton states his opinion on the 65-game rule

Back to his interview on the Pat McAfee Show, the cast asked Haliburton about his opinion on the NBA’s 65-game rule. Amidst all the controversy that the rule has drawn, the Pacers’ point guard said:

The NBA had to do something because fans, analysts, and the people that watch the game, they want the great players to play. I get that… I was one of the first guys kind of affected by this. And at the time, I said, ‘I think this is a dumb rule.’… I think that I understand from the league’s perspective… I think guys want to play.

He reminded the cast that he had once criticized the 65-game rule, as he was going to miss out on a supermax contract. But after a meeting with Commissioner Adam Silver, he changed his opinion. But Tyrese Haliburton reminded viewers that the players are not the ones who do not want to play.

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