Tyrese Haliburton’s Confirmed Absence has Pacers Fans Bracing for Dull 2025-26 Season: “Tank Watch”

Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton’s Confirmed Absence has Pacers Fans Bracing for Dull 2025-26 Season: “Tank Watch”

Tyrese Haliburton to miss 2025-26 season (Image via FirstSportz)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

From the 1st of January, the Indiana Pacers were the best team in the East. Tyrese Haliburton and his fellow teammates had established themselves as a dark horse in the playoffs, despite finishing the regular season 4th in their conference.

Once the playoffs started, that dark horse label came to become true as they dispatched their opponents one by one. First the Milwaukee Bucks, then the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, and then finally the New York Knicks.

Despite those wins, they were considered the underdogs heading into the NBA Finals. Many expected the Oklahoma City Thunder to win easily. Their OKC in 5 or 6 claims had to be thrown out of the window after the Pacers won Game 3 in dominating fashion.

By Game 7, many felt that the Pacers’ leading point guard had learned how to play through his calf injury. He confirmed their belief after a blistering 9 points in 7 minutes start to Game 7. Half a second later, while trying to get off on his right leg, his Achilles popped.

Pacers fans all around the world were in disbelief, watching Tyrese Haliburton writhing in pain. They knew their chances of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy were shot, but some had concerns about the future. Now franchise president Kevin Pritchard confirmed their fears.

I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever… He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now.

Kevin Pritchard said at the Pacers’ facilities

This confirms their leading point guard will take time to recover completely over the next calendar year. Achilles’ tears usually take a year to recover, but sometimes it can be faster. However, the Pacers are not taking any chances and shutting him down.

Pacers fans not hopeful without Tyrese Haliburton

Over the course of the past two years, basketball fans in Indiana were rubbing their hands in glee. In Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton, they had two young guards who were bringing competitive and exciting basketball to their city.

Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of NBA Finals (Image via WTHR/X)

Now, the latter will not be in action for the upcoming NBA season, which means the Indiana Pacers will struggle to make their mark. Indianapolis fans are now resigned to the fact that their team might not make it to the playoffs. Check out examples of those reactions below:

Pacers fans might hope that playoff sensations TJ McConnell, Benedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Pascal Siakam can still give them some semblance of good basketball. But Tyrese Haliburton was the engine of this offense, and losing that was a major blow.

Now they have to contend for a season of playing a system that will not have him as their primary playmaker. At the same time, they also have to adjust to a new center, after Myles Turner decided to leave for their conference rivals.

Pacers were ready to pay luxury tax for Myles Turner

When news came out that Myles Turner elected to earn more money with the Milwaukee Bucks, Pacers fans were not happy. They felt the difference in AAV was too little to justify moving to another team, whom the Pacers beat in the 1st round.

As per franchise president Kevin Pritchard, the ownership was ready to pay luxury tax in order to keep their longest tenured player on the team. Even then, he preferred to move to Milwaukee and try to win there.

It seems the center probably also felt his chances alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo were better than with a team who could struggle without their leading point guard. The Pacers will take time to get back to becoming competitive, and Turner, at age 29, believes his chances lie elsewhere.

Also Read: