By Sachin Shankar Yadav 
Tyrese Haliburton, a star for the Indiana Pacers, tore his right Achilles tendon in the first quarter of Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton was already playing through a strained right calf when he drove to the basket, fell to the floor without making contact, and started slapping the court in frustration. As he was assisted off the court and then surrounded by teammates and family in the locker room, he was clearly upset, his face covered in towels.
In addition to ending his Finals run, Haliburton’s injury puts his entire 2025–26 season in doubt, as he will need surgery and a protracted recovery. His commitment to his team was demonstrated by his will to play through pain, but the emotional scene as he left the court captured the heartbreak of the moment for both Haliburton and Pacers fans.