Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles during Game 7 of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Indiana Pacers have confirmed that he will miss the entire 2025–26 NBA season. The seriousness of Haliburton's injuries was disclosed by general manager Kevin Pritchard, who also emphasized that he would require more than a year to heal.

After scoring nine points in the opening seven minutes of the playoff game, Haliburton sustained an injury during a crucial period. The game's course was drastically changed by the Achilles rupture, though, and the Pacers were outscored 56–43 in the second half, leaving them unable to recover. "He will not play next year… We would not jeopardise that now. Don’t get any hopes up that he will play," Pritchard said

As a vital contributor, Haliburton averaged 17.3 points and 8.6 assists during the playoffs, helping the Pacers reach their first Finals trip since 2000. One of his noteworthy buzzer-beaters in Game 1 of the Finals was one of his contributions. With Myles Turner departing in free agency as well, the team suddenly faces formidable obstacles during a crucial offseason.

On June 23, 2025, Haliburton had surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Pritchard acknowledged the brutal reality of Achilles injuries, noting that players like Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum are currently recuperating from similar setbacks, but he is still hopeful about Haliburton's eventual comeback. Given that these injuries often take eight to twelve months to heal, Haliburton might not make a comeback until the end of the 2026–2027 campaign.

Due to Haliburton's departure, the Pacers are now at a crossroads and must reevaluate their personnel and strategy. In addition to harming their immediate hopes, this setback gives other clubs more opportunities in the NBA 2025–2026 season.