The 2024-25 NBA season wrapped up with a historic finish as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their first-ever NBA Championship by defeating the Indiana Pacers (103-91) in a thrilling Game 7.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge and dropping 29 points, the Thunder brought the house down at Paycom Center, celebrating the culmination of years of rebuilding.
But while the Thunder fans were celebrating, Pacers fans were left stunned. Not just by the loss but by a moment they never saw coming: Tyrese Haliburton collapsing with an Achilles injury.
And now a former NBA All-Star has revealed a pattern that might explain not only Haliburton’s injury but also those suffered by Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard this postseason.
Gilbert Arenas Reveals Key Connection Between Calf Strains and Achilles Tears
During a live NBA Finals watch party on “Playback,” Gilbert Arenas highlighted a crucial but overlooked connection between all the players who suffered Achilles injuries this postseason. They had all been dealing with calf strains before the tendon gave out.
“Even with Jayson Tatum, when I asked him about the Achilles, and Dame, was your calf hurting before? And they both said yes,” said Arenas during the livestream.
“Even with Jayson Tatum when I asked him about the achilles — and Dame — [I asked] was your calf hurting before? And they both said yes”
Should the Pacers have played Tyrese Haliburton this game?
(🎥: @NoChillGilZero) pic.twitter.com/zEZeYdomsy
— Playback (@WatchPlayback) June 23, 2025
With just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter of Game 7, while attempting to beat Gilgeous-Alexander off the dribble, Haliburton suddenly collapsed, grabbing his lower leg in agony. It was later confirmed he had suffered a right Achilles injury.
Tyrese Haliburton achilles injury replay. You can see the pop… pic.twitter.com/xPRjRn4TSD
— The Sports Place (@offsportsplace) June 23, 2025
“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped. But he will be back. I don’t have any medical information about what may or may not have happened, but he’ll be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery,” said Pacers HC Rick Carlisle during the postgame interview.
Pattern Emerges Across Star Players This Postseason
In Game 5 of the Finals, Haliburton had tweaked his calf and visibly played through discomfort in Game 6 as well. Moreover, this wasn’t the first time he had been forced out during a critical stretch. Just a year ago, he missed the final two games of the Pacers’ playoff series against the Celtics due to a hamstring issue.
It wasn’t just Haliburton. Tatum’s Achilles rupture came during the Celtics’ Game 4 loss to the Knicks, a 121-113 defeat where Tatum exited early. Lillard’s injury followed a similar script. During the Bucks’ first-round series against the Pacers, he suffered an Achilles tear in Game 4.
Haliburton became the third All-Star to tear his Achilles in these playoffs. Bucks star Damian Lillard did so in the first round, and Jayson Tatum of the Celtics went down in the second round. Both Lillard and Tatum will miss most or all of the 2025-26 season as well.
Tyrese Haliburton went down with an injury in Game 7. pic.twitter.com/AZ1uk65dFg
— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2025
The medical connection between calf strains and Achilles injuries is well-documented among sports medicine professionals. Former NBA player Isaiah Thomas noted on social media: “Them calf strains are nothing to play with. The next thing if not healed right is always Achilles”.
As for Game 7 itself, the Pacers showed promise early, leading by a single point at halftime. But the Thunder stormed back with a dominant second half. OKC dropped 56 second-half points and never looked back. Before his early exit, Haliburton had already tallied nine points.
Haliburton, 25, had been the breakout star of the postseason, leading Indiana on its improbable run to the Finals. In all four rounds, he hit a tying or winning shot in the final seconds, becoming the league’s first player do so in a single postseason.
All three happen in the post season. To long of a season plus playoff games is to much wear and tear on the body. Season needs to be shortened”, same in football
I’m afraid greed is more important than the players.
Also what they all have in common is having number 0 in their jerseys.