In an anonymous poll of NBA players conducted by The Athletic in April 2025, Tyrese Haliburton was voted the “most overrated player.” The Indiana Pacers guard received 14.4% of the vote, with about 13 players voting for him.
That tag, however, did not stick long as Haliburton proved all his doubters wrong in the Playoff run that followed. Haliburton made four clutch shots (to tie or take the lead in the final three seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime) in the 2025 playoffs. This feat tied or exceeded any other player’s career total in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97), with only LeBron James having more.
However, the ending to Haliburton’s dreamlike Playoff run was nothing short of a nightmare as the star tore his Achilles in arguably the biggest game of his career.
What Was Tyrese Haliburton’s Immediate Reaction to the Injury?
Making an appearance on the “IMPAULSIVE” podcast, host Mike Majlak asked Haliburton how quickly the Pacers guard knew something was wrong. Haliburton shared the story, describing his Achilles tear exactly as many before him have.
“I’m going to be honest. If you go back and watch the video I caught the ball. I like kind of go to shot fake and Shai[Gilgeous-Alexander] kind of raises up, and when I go to take a step I feel it. I feel like people always say it feels like you got kicked in the back of your leg and that’s really what it feels like. Uh, but at for like a split second I thought Shai stepped on me. So I kind of like turned my head and realized he’s in front of me,” said Haliburton.
Haliburton’s season ended in Game 7 of the NBA Finals when he tore his Achilles tendon. The injury occurred in the first quarter as Haliburton was driving to the basket when he suddenly fell to the floor in agonizing pain. The injury was a non-contact one and happened while he was being guarded by Shai Gielgeous-Alexander, which would explain Haliburton’s confusion.
The Pacers guard had been playing through a strained right calf, which he suffered earlier in the series. A severe calf strain weakens the Achilles tendon and increases the risk of a full rupture, which is what ultimately happened to Haliburton. And just like we’ve often heard of Achilles tears, Haliburton felt the sensation of a kick to the back of his leg as he went down.
“For a second I thought did the ref just step on me? Did the ref get in the way? And then as I was going down I was like ‘oh I know exactly what it is’, this is what they they’ve talked about,” said Haliburton. “You know it it literally feels like somebody just lines you up like a kickball, kicks you in the back of the leg. It’s not like the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I think it was more the general shock and like I guess mental pain of it all like that happened in that moment.”
Haliburton will remain out for the 2025-26 season, with the Pacers and Haliburton confirming his long-term health will remain the top priority. The young guard’s stardom is now clear as day, and the overrated comments are a thing of the past. Indiana awaits the return of their star.
