At his Carmel basketball camp on Sunday, Tyrese Haliburton gave the first public health update since his Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He told camp attendees, "I feel great. You see I have eyebrows now so thankful for that. I looked back at videos of me and I can see how swollen my face is and I'm just glad that's past me now. I feel great. Body feels great. I'm able to do everything. I feel like I'm operating like I'm a healthy NBA player." He added that being able to work with kids without fielding health questions meant a lot after a year of recovery.
Haliburton’s last full season produced 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, earning him All-NBA Third Team honors. The source text confirms those numbers placed him among the league’s most efficient facilitators before his forced hiatus. Since the injury, he shed roughly 10 pounds while battling shingles, and he confirmed that his right leg and Achilles tendon have fully healed.
The Pacers’ fortunes collapsed without him. After reaching the 2025 NBA Finals, Indiana slipped to a 19-63 record in the 2025-26 season, the worst mark in franchise history. The drop left the club out of the playoffs and forced a rapid reassessment of its roster construction. The source notes that the team fell to the No. 5 overall pick in the draft lottery and subsequently traded that selection to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac, Bennedict Mathurin deal.
That trade underscored how the franchise had to leverage future assets to address immediate gaps created by Haliburton’s absence. While the transaction itself does not involve a specific contract amount in the source, it highlights the strategic moves the organization made to stay competitive while rebuilding around its star point guard.
Now that Haliburton reports he is "operating like a healthy NBA player," the Pacers regain their primary creator. His return restores the playmaking core that had been missing for a full season, giving Indiana a clear offensive catalyst as training camp opens in early September. Coaches can once again design schemes around his vision and passing ability, which should accelerate the team’s transition from rebuilding footnote to competitive contender.
Beyond the on-court implications, Haliburton’s optimism at the camp offers a psychological lift to a locker room that has endured a year of disappointment. If his health holds, the Pacers head into the upcoming season with a veteran leader ready to steer the squad back toward relevance.
Indiana Pacers 
