Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton saw a dramatic end to his postseason campaign after sustaining an Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. While the path to recovery is expected to be long, with Haliburton likely to miss the entirety of the season, the guard has made great progress on his road to recovery.
Even amid his recovery journey, the Pacers star has made appearances on podcasts and other public events, often with a walking boot. However, in a recent video, the guard could be seen at Indiana’s practice facility, putting up free throws without a boot on.
let’s goooo Tyrese 😤
( 🎥 @tyresehaliburton/IG) pic.twitter.com/2PgZVsAkga
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) September 1, 2025
Although this video is no indication of his return being ahead of schedule, the sight was encouraging nonetheless. With several fans being inspired by the clip, they celebrated his return to practice on X.
“Praying he’s able to play this season!” shared one fan.
“Let’s go, baby! Putting the pieces back together again,” added another, encouraging the star to remain committed to the process of recovery.
“I wish him a speedy recovery. That man was on some tear last playoffs. Very unfortunate what happened and when,” said a third.
“Bro needs to chill out and rest. Please, baby Jesus, we don’t want another Luck on our hand,” expressed one fan, concerned about the guard’s health.
“Seeing him back this fast is inspiring. Hope he takes it slow though. Achilles injuries are no joke,” shared another user, acknowledging the severity of the injury.
“PUT ON THE BOOT HALI,” responded another, reiterating the same concern.
“Keep rushing him. Can’t wait for the new injury,” pointed another user, mocking the Pacers organization for their approach.
“Could’ve beat the Thunder if that injury ain’t happen,” another fan reminisced.
“Man, that’s crazy work ethic. Coming back from an Achilles that fast takes real dedication. Respect,” acknowledged one user, giving the guard props for his commitment.
“Gonna come back better than ever,” claimed one user.
Haliburton’s dedication to returning is commendable, but as some users on X noted, he must be careful not to rush the process. When considering how easy it is to suffer another setback at this stage, he would be wise to manage his workload.
While the reactions from fans expressing concern and optimism regarding the guard are promising, the Pacers organization will need to address how they will cope without their star next season.
The 25-year-old plays a massive role for Indiana. As the team’s floor general and one of the best point guards in the league, Haliburton is responsible for facilitating the team’s offense and maintaining its rhythm.
Although the Pacers’ offense doesn’t rely on one player scoring 20+ points per game, it is dependent on Haliburton to dictate the tempo.
Without the two-time All-Star on the floor for the next season, the Pacers will be forced to make some significant adjustments to their starting lineup. With reports of Bennedict Mathurin taking over point guard duties in Haliburton’s absence, Indiana will prepare itself for the new campaign.
