Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has provided a fresh update on his Achilles tendon recovery, describing both his progress and the surprising figure helping him stay upbeat. That person happens to be Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.
Haliburton’s injury, which ended Indiana’s run in Game 7 of last season’s NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, required surgery and extensive rehab. Speaking on *The Kevin O’Connor Show*, the two-time All-Star revealed that while the road has been challenging, he’s made steady strides and rediscovered perspective, *Sports Illustrated* reports.
“I’ve been joking with our trainers, I feel like I’m in pre-draft mode,” Haliburton said. “I’ve started to feel like I can really shoot the ball well. I’m doing more stationary passing with my left hand and trying to get better at reads. I can do a little ball handling, which I hate, but it’s helping. There are many areas where I can get better.”
Though Haliburton has been ruled out for the 2025-26 season, he continues to strengthen his leg and refine parts of his game he couldn’t normally focus on during the grind of a full schedule.
### Jayson Tatum Helping Guide Haliburton’s Recovery
In an interview with *Sports Illustrated*, Haliburton credited Tatum for playing a vital role in his mental recovery.
“Me and Jayson talk pretty often,” he said. “Probably once every week, once every couple weeks. He’s kind of helped me stay upbeat, especially early. He was a great person for me to talk to and kind of lean on.”
Tatum, who suffered a similar Achilles injury months earlier, has served as a real-time example for Haliburton to follow.
“Everything he’s doing, I have to look forward to,” Haliburton added. “It’s been nice to speak with him, showing each other what we’re doing, cheering each other on from afar.”
Their friendship dates back to Team USA’s gold medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they built mutual respect through practices and competition. That connection has evolved into a steady recovery partnership, one message at a time.
Haliburton averaged 17.3 points and 8.6 assists per game in the 2025 postseason before the injury, driving the Pacers’ Finals push. He’s maintained that same intensity in rehab, documenting the process through his longtime videographer Zachery Remy.
“We have a ton of stuff that we will show eventually,” Haliburton said. “We’re just finding the right time.”
Encouragingly for Pacers fans, that right time may not be far off.
“I’m not far off,” Haliburton teased. “I’m jumping, starting to run, working out, doing a little bit of everything.”
### NBA Stars Unite in Achilles Recovery Chat
Haliburton revealed that his support system extends beyond Tatum. According to *For The Win*, he’s part of a group chat that includes Damian Lillard, Dejounte Murray, and others who’ve also faced Achilles injuries.
“Everybody is in different phases,” Tyrese Haliburton explained. “I’m obviously the farthest behind. We’re checking in on each other. It’s almost like Facebook sometimes, where moms share pictures of their kids doing something for the first time.”
That sense of humor has kept him grounded, as has his role in supporting longtime friend Caitlin Clark, who’s dealing with her own injury in the WNBA.
Tyrese Haliburton’s comeback now represents more than personal progress. It’s become a shared blueprint for athletes navigating one of basketball’s toughest setbacks. His story isn’t just about returning to play — it’s about building community, finding purpose in the process, and redefining leadership through resilience.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/indiana-pacers/tyrese-haliburton-jayson-tatum-injury-recovery/
