Tyrese Haliburton Overcome With Emotion in Return After Achilles Tear

Tyrese Haliburton returned to meaningful basketball action Wednesday night, nearly 17 months after suffering a devastating Achilles tear, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 123-120 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The emotional comeback saw Haliburton score 23 points and dish out 12 assists in his first game since Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

In the moments following the win, Haliburton struggled to contain his emotions, fighting back tears as he spoke about the significance of his return. "It means a lot to be back out here," he said, visibly moved.

The star guard's career was put on hold when he tore his Achilles during the decisive game against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The injury followed a right calf strain and kept him off the court for the entirety of the subsequent season, during which the Pacers finished with a 19-63 record.

Haliburton participated in three preseason games prior to the season opener, but Wednesday's contest marked a true return for the two-time All-NBA selection. He played 34 minutes, shooting 53.3 percent from the field and contributing two rebounds to Indiana's first win of the season.

After a lengthy rehabilitation process that spanned over a year, Haliburton expressed gratitude for being back on the court. "Yeah, a lot — a lot," he responded when asked if he had contemplated his return during his recovery. "I'm just really thankful to be back out here."