Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been ruled out of the 2025-26 NBA season. He will be recuperating from a torn right Achilles tendon, which he sustained during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jun. 22. Haliburton underwent a surgical procedure the very next day. Soon, the team announced that he would miss the upcoming NBA season.
Since moving to the Pacers in 2022, Haliburton has quickly established himself as the face of the franchise and led them to a mesmerizing campaign in the Eastern Conference last season. Haliburton’s love for the team and city of Indiana goes beyond the basketball court to uphold the Eastern Conference rivalries in other sports and major sporting leagues.
Was Tyrese Haliburton Spotted Wearing MLB Rivals’ Jerseys As They Took On Milwaukee?
While Haliburton is out injured for the upcoming NBA season, that hasn’t stopped him from being present on the sidelines and showcasing his support for his teammates.
During the Pacers vs. Thunder preseason game on Saturday, the two-time NBA All-Star was observed rocking a Chicago Cubs jersey, who were due to play Game 5 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers later that day at American Family Field.
Last night, during the Pacers and Spurs preseason game in Indiana, Haliburton was again spotted wearing an MLB jersey, a Shohei Ohtani Dodgers jersey instead of the Cubs’. The Dodgers were due to play the Brewers in the NLCS opener in Milwaukee later that night.
While the common point between the two incidents was his open favoring of Milwaukee’s opponents, the fun fact is that the Dodgers and Cubs have their own internal rivalry in the National League. The Milwaukee Bucks’ social media handles quickly took notice of these incidents and shared a hilarious post, seemingly targeting Haliburton.
What a sad, sad little man you are @Hali pic.twitter.com/p62ezhkHFb
— BucksRealm (@BucksRealm) October 14, 2025
It was evident that the Pacers’ guard showcased how deeply he remembers the rivalries from the basketball court. The Pacers and the Bucks are among the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. Last season, Indiana beat Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs.
It will not all be the same for the Pacers in the upcoming NBA season, mainly because their star man is sidelined for the entire campaign. Moreover, after spending a decade in Indiana, one of their other top starters, Myles Turner has now joined their Eastern Conference rivals, the Bucks, during the offseason on a multi-year deal.
