Five paragraphs, one photo in a hospital bed, and a bible verse.
That was how Tyrese Haliburton addressed the sports world for the first time after tearing his Achilles in the biggest game of his life.
The Pacers point guard has become synonymous with clutch shots and brushes with Lady Luck but on Sunday night in Oklahoma City, Haliburton did not benefit from goof fortune.
He played through a calf strain suffered in game five of the NBA Finals. He knew the risks and took his chances anyway. It’s a brutal result that nobody, not even Thunder fans, wanted to see.
Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton on playing through calf strain in Game 6: “I want to be out there, and that’s the plan”
If this were the regular season would he sit?
“Yeah, probably. That would probably be the case. But we’re not in the regular season.” pic.twitter.com/x6O7IZEc6O
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) June 18, 2025
After suffering a torn Achilles, Haliburton wasted no time getting surgery. Monday he immediately received treatment and has begun a long road to recovery.
After going under the knife, the guard shared a long, introspective message on social media to his fans.
Tyrese Haliburton’s message on social media
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. 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.
Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025
There are more than a few takeaways from this emotional message to the fans.
First, the detail of the post shows Haliburton’s maturity and self-awareness. He acknowledges he’s just 25 but is ready to take on this obstacle.
“My journey to get to where I am today wasn’t by happenstance, I’ve pushed myself every day to be great,” Haliburton wrote. “And I will continue to do just that. The most important part of this all, is that I’m grateful.”
He references a quote from the late Kobe Bryant, a legendary player who overcame a torn Achilles.
“‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.’ And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right.”
Most importantly, Haliburton has the foresight to understand that while the road may be long and challenging, it will be rewarding once he comes out on the other side.
“Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through. It feels good to let this shit out without y’all seeing the kid ugly cry,” Haliburton wrote.
It’s not a surprising response from a player who has shown composure in some of the biggest moments on the court. Now, his greatest test will come in physical therapy and rehab sessions.
It may not be glamorous, but Tyrese Haliburton is built for this moment.
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