Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton still has a long way to go before he's fully recovered from the injury that cut short his 2025 Finals run. Still, according to the latest update he gave to Reuters, he's making progress as he celebrates the latest milestone.
"Getting closer to walking full time in my [boot]," said Haliburton. "So, that's exciting for me. It's kind of like a new benchmark, a new achievement for me. Just being able to walk, it's like the small wins right now. Just taking it a day at a time. I have good days, bad days."
Haliburton went down in Game 7 of the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he's set to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. It's been a tough road to getting back on the court so far, but Hali knows how important it is not to rush the process.
"I obviously want to be good tomorrow, but I know it takes time," Haliburton said. "The team has already ruled me out for the year, so I'm in no rush. It's just about getting 100 percent, not necessarily as fast as I can, but getting 100 percent is important. I don't want to come back and be 85, 90 percent. I want to be able to come back at 100."
Tyrese is just one of several stars dealing with serious injuries right now. So far, the list includes prominent athletes like Damian Lillard (torn Achilles), Jayson Tatum (ruptured Achilles), and Kyrie Irving (torn ACL). Out of all of them, Tyrese's injury had the biggest impact, as they don't have anyone like Jaylen Brown to step up in his absence
Haliburton rose to stardom in his second year with the Pacers, and he hasn't looked back. As a gifted scorer, elite playmaker, and skilled ball-handler, his impact on the court is undeniable, and it's been the catalyst behind Indiana's rise to power.
In the 2024-25 campaign, with Tyrese averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game, the Pacers finished fourth in the East at 50-32. With a highly efficient offense, the Pacers were virtually impossible to guard, and they were set to be top-tier contenders for years to come.
The Haliburton injury has set them back tremendously. Besides an expected gap year in 2025-26, they also lost out on their big man, Myles Turner, who joined Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks. By the time their point guard returns to action, their situation will be entirely different.
Still, there are some reasons to be optimistic if you're a Pacers fan. Since they will likely not be contenders next season, they can focus on internal development to build up their potential and set up a major comeback when Hali returns. As for the injured star himself, there's optimism that he can come back at full strength.
At just 25, he's young enough to bounce back and pick up where he left off. By following the example set by Kevin Durant and Dominique Wilkins, he can put in the work to ensure he doesn't lose a step, and he seems motivated to keep his place as one of the best guards in the league. Of course, he'll have to endure many more months of rehab before he can even begin to prepare for his highly anticipated return.
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