Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers suffered a horrible tragedy in the 2025 NBA Finals, and it set them back significantly. The downward spiral actually started in Game 5, when Haliburton suffered a right calf strain that many believe contributed to his Achilles tear later in the series. In a recent appearance on the “Impaulsive” podcast, Hali explained that he called Kevin Durant after the initial calf injury to ask if he had any regrets about playing through the injury that led up to his Achilles tear in 2019.
“I called [Kevin Durant] after I got my MRI in Game 5, and I asked, ‘Do you regret playing in the game you tore it?’ He told me, ‘No, not at all.’ And I was like, alright, I wasn’t going to switch anyway, so I’m glad you said that, it makes me feel better… But nah, I don’t regret it,” said Haliburton.
Haliburton, 25, was on the cusp of greatness before going down in the Finals. With averages of 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game last season, he was leading the Pacers to another excellent season, fourth in the East at 50-32, and they shocked the world in the playoffs with series victories over the Heat, Cavaliers, and Knicks.
In the Finals against the Thunder, the series was tied at 2-2 going into Game 5 at Paycom Center. That’s where Haliburton tweaked his right calf, which typically sidelines players for weeks. While Hali already knew he’d continue playing, he called up Kevin Durant for guidance, and it was exactly what he wanted to hear.
Just like Haliburton, Durant also experienced a minor injury before his season-ending Achilles injury. Back in 2019, Durant was dealing with a calf strain that he reinjured in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. He missed several games leading up to his return in Game 5 of the Finals against the Raptors, which caused some panic from the enemy team. Unfortunately, it would cost him all of the following season after suffering a complete Achilles tendon rupture in the second quarter.
While some might have chosen not to risk further injury, Durant has no regrets about how it went down, and that’s what he told Haliburton when he called after his own injury in this year’s Finals. He didn’t know back then that he would also fall victim to a torn Achilles in Game 7 of his series, but Haliburton wouldn’t change a thing if he had the chance to go back.
Even though he’ll spend the next season undergoing a rigorous and grueling rehab process, Haliburton wouldn’t have been satisfied knowing he didn’t give everything he had to try to win the Finals. With a championship on the line, you can’t blame Hali or Durant for their choices, and it only shows how hungry they were to win a championship.
The good news is, Durant has fully recovered, and he’s back in action like it never happened. If Haliburton follows the same track, he’ll be back on the court in no time to help the Pacers reclaim their spot near the top of the East.
