Pacers president confirms Haliburton won't play next season
Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed that Tyrese Haliburton will miss all of next season after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton underwent surgery one day after the Pacers' season-ending loss.
"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever. His surgery went well. ... He will not play next year, though. We would not jeopardize that now," Pritchard told reporters Monday, per WISH-TV News.
Haliburton was playing through a calf injury that worsened in Game 5 of the Finals.
The All-Star guard stood by his decision to suit up in the championship-deciding contest despite the risk.
"(Haliburton's) told me many times ... 'I would do it over and over.' And if you're asking me, would I have him do it over and over? I would not," Pritchard said. "If I knew that he was going to get hurt, I would sacrifice that game because I care for the kid so much and want him to have an incredible career."
Andrew Nembhard will likely start at the point with Haliburton sidelined for the entire 2025-26 campaign.
Veteran T.J. McConnell should continue to serve as Indiana's backup point guard, while 2025 second-round pick Kam Jones may see some minutes as well.