Tyrese Haliburton on playing hurt during Finals: 'I’d do it again, and again after that'

Tyrese Haliburton: Indy, I’m sorry. If any fan base doesn’t deserve this, it’s y’all. But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don’t doubt for a second that y’all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours. I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation. “There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.” And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right. My journey to get to where I am today wasn’t by happenstance, I’ve pushed myself every day to be great. And I will continue to do just that. The most important part of this all, is that I’m grateful. I’m grateful for every single experience that’s led me here. I’m grateful for all the love from the hoop world. I don’t “have to” go through this, I get to go through this. I’m grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I’ll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton. -via x.com / June 23, 2025

James Johnson, the Pacers’ veteran forward who rarely plays but is the team’s resident protector, helped carry Haliburton off the floor. “That was heartbreaking,” he said. “I know how hard he works, how bad he wanted it, and I know the hours he puts in, day in and day out. … Just to even be here was an honor, to sit courtside and help cheer on these guys was an honor, man. There’s a group character that’s hard to find. KP (Pritchard) and (Pacers general manager) Chad (Buchanan) did a great job of putting this group together, and getting high-character guys.” -via New York Times / June 23, 2025

“There was nothing to be said,” an emotional John Haliburton told Andscape in a phone interview. “We already knew there was nothing to be said. My man, you don’t need to talk about that. My heart was broken. It was just like stupid unbelievable. We came so far just to fall down like this. “But like I said, nothing happened that God didn’t allow. I don’t care what you say. I don’t care how you try to do it. Nothing happened unless God allows it.” -via Andscape / June 23, 2025