Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton He is not expected to play the 2025-26 season as he did is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendonbut he is getting closer to game form.
Maybe I should lose a few pounds first.
Haliburton, 25, appeared on the Tuesday, January 27 episode of LeBron James‘”Mind The Game,” where he gave an update on his rehab following the devastating injury he suffered in Game 7 of 2025 NBA Finals.
“I understand that it allows me to grow in different ways,” he said of his injury. “That’s something I’m really trying to focus on through my rehab, during my time to come back: being more physical. Like, bro, I’m up today. I was 180 pounds on the 7th. I’m 210 right now. Like, I’m up to 30 pounds bro.”
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, will be allowed to attend the NBA team’s next game following his previous suspension. ESPN reported Monday, May 26 that John could watch the Pacers’ Game 4 against the New York Knicks in person from a suite. (The Pacers currently lead the East (…)
Haliburton explained that his weight gain is at least partially intentional. Watching from the sideline has allowed him to see the game in a different way, taking parts of other players’ games and applying them to his own. One thing he realized was that he needed to be more physical to get to the free throw line more often.
The rest of that weight gain can be attributed to some extra snacking. These pounds will come off as your rehabilitation continues to increase.
“Obviously, when I start running, I’m going to get it,” he told James, 41. “Something isn’t good because I’ve been drowning my sorrows in cookies and ice cream and stuff.”
While any injury that causes an athlete to miss significant time could be tough on their psyche, Haliburton’s was particularly brutal, coming in a losing effort in the deciding game of the NBA Finals and forcing him out of the entire following season.
After leading an incredible comeback in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton celebrated the moment with his girlfriend, Jade Jones. Jones posted a video via her Instagram story on Wednesday, May 21, showing the moment she and Haliburton, 25, embraced courtside in an empty Madison Square Garden (…)
Seven months later, Haliburton has found peace amid his rehabilitation.
“I’m very happy where I am. I’m grateful for that,” he said. “The process has been shit. There have been good days, bad days, there are days when I sit and I keep asking ‘why is this happening to me?’ It’s hard for me to understand at the moment, but I understand that it allows me to grow in different ways: to grow in my faith, to grow in all these ways that are good for me.”
On the court, he’s back to playing pick-up, but as he humorously explained to James, he has a long way to go before he’s back to top form.
“I just started playing 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 all over the court,” he said. “It’s been good being with the interns (player development) and all that. It’s been fun because as I started playing with the interns and (assistant coach) Jannero Snapper. I’m like, ‘Oh, I can play an NBA game right now.'”
He continued: “I’m watching (Benedict Mathurin)… He doubted me once. He was at the rim, I was still at the 3-point line. I said, “Ohhh.” I still have time.”
The Pacers have struggled mightily without Haliburton this season. As of Wednesday, January 28, Indiana is 11-36, the worst record in the NBA. While this season may be a lost cause, this could put the Pacers in position next year to return to Haliburton in 2026-27 alongside one of the top picks in the NBA Draft.