When will Tyrese Haliburton return? Latest on Achilles injury timeline and potentially missing 2025-26 NBA season 

Tyrese Haliburton's 2024-25 NBA season came to a brutal end after the Indiana Pacers star aggravated his right calf strain injury in Game 7 of the finals against the OKC Thunder. Haliburton's father, John, confirmed to ESPN that it was an Achilles injury, as initially feared.

This not only jeopardizes the Pacers' chances of completing a historic NBA championship run, but also diminishes their chances of replicating their heroics in the 2025-26 season

When will Tyrese Haliburton return? Achilles injury timeline explored

Tyrese Haliburton could be out for the 2025-26 NBA season. If it's an Achilles tendon rupture, Haliburton may need to undergo a four to six-month recovery process. Once he's ready for physical movement, he will need another six months to rehab, rest, recover, and gradually progress in workout intensity. That also involves passing a mental hurdle and game conditioning, possibly seeing Haliburton return directly in the 2026-27 season.

Kevin Durant also suffered a similar injury in the 2019 NBA Finals. He missed the following season, returning in the 2020-21 season, which started in December after the COVID-19 pandemic extended the 2019-20 season.

Haliburton had a sensational postseason run after hitting four game-winners, one in each series, including Game 1 of the finals, which was crucial for the Pacers, forcing Game 7. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.4 steals, shooting 46.1%, including 32.9% from 3 in 22 playoff games before Sunday's championship contest.

That said, the Pacers may not have enough to replicate their success of the past two seasons, which included making the conference finals in 2024 and the finals in 2025. In both playoff runs, Haliburton's season ended with injuries. He had a hamstring injury last year amid the Pacers' 4-0 loss to the Celtics in the conference finals.

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Pacers fail to keep up with Thunder in Tyrese Haliburton's absence

The Pacers failed to keep up with the Thunder in Tyrese Haliburton's absence during Sunday's Game 7. It was a neck-and-neck game until halftime, with Indiana leading by one. However, the Thunder's stifling defense put the breaks on the Pacers in the second half to snatch an improbable win away from the visitors.

Apart from T.J. McConnell, who scored 12 of his 16 points in the final two quarters, and Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 16 in that period, no other Pacer had his way against OKC's defense.

The Pacers committed 21 turnovers throughout the contest. It was easier for the Thunder to limit Indiana, especially McConnell, who accounted for seven of those turnovers. He was their only reliable ball-handler and playmaker.