In Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury late in the first quarter, significantly diminishing the team’s championship hopes. Ultimately, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the title with a 103-97 victory. Haliburton’s injury rekindled concerns regarding the frequency of Achilles tendon tears in the league, as he joined a list of stars, including Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum, who suffered similar injuries during the postseason.
Some attribute the increasing instances of such injuries to the demanding 82-game regular season combined with a rigorous playoff schedule. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that postseason injuries were lower compared to previous years, downplaying the correlation between a compressed schedule and injury frequency. Medical experts suggest that the sport’s intense demands—fast, explosive movements—add stress to the Achilles tendon, which can endure loads up to six times a person’s body weight. Dr. Julia Iafrate emphasized that aggressive movements during play heighten injury risks.
Haliburton had previously suffered a calf strain in Game 5 but insisted on playing through it. Both Dr. Iafrate and Dr. Adam Bitterman noted that playing on a strained calf likely increased the risk of his Achilles injury. Recovery from such an injury typically spans nine months to a year, meaning Haliburton might miss most, if not all, of the 2025-2026 NBA season. His situation echoes that of Kevin Durant, who faced a similar fate during the 2019 Finals after pushing through a calf injury, ultimately leading to a torn Achilles. Haliburton’s surgery was conducted by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
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