NBA news: Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton undergoes surgery, vows to bounce back

By Paolo Castro

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton did not waste any time and went straight for surgery after sustaining a torn right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA finals on Monday, June 23. 

Haliburton played through injury in Game 6 and Game 7 as the Pacers pushed the West’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder to the full length of the series. 

However, with five minutes left in the first period of the final game, the Pacers do-it-all guard tore his Achilles tendon and did not return.

Haliburton had surgery the next day after an MRI confirmed the injury.

Team resilience 

Haliburton was the embodiment of the team’s resilience from the regular season until the playoffs.

After the surgery, he said on social media that given the chance, he would not hesitate to do it all over again, referring to the sacrifices the players all made to reach the finals, coming within one win of the title.

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“Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable.”

“I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense,” a portion of his post read.

“I know I’ll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player.”

“And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers,” he added in the lengthy social media post.

Determined to bounce back

Additionally, Haliburton said that he is determined to bounce back and finish what the team has started.

The road to recovery may be a long one though as it could take up to 12 months for him to return.

Missing the entirety of next season is possible but Haliburton’s young age along with the advancement in medicine could fast-track his recovery progress as the Pacers seek to defend their Eastern Conference title and take another shot at the championship.

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