The Indiana Pacers finished their lost 2025-26 season on Sunday with a 133-121 loss at home to the Detroit Pistons. That left last year’s Eastern Conference champions with the second-worst record in the NBA at 19-63 — the worst mark in franchise history — and waiting to see if they win the NBA Draft Lottery.
A major reason for the Pacers’ downfall was the absence of their star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, ensuring he would miss all of this season.
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Yet Haliburton also dealt with another health issue late in the season, revealing on national TV that he was diagnosed with shingles during the NBA All-Star break. Nearly two months later, the two-time All-Star is still recovering from the virus, as he revealed to reporters during an exit interview following the conclusion of the Pacers’ season.
“I’ve lost part of my eyebrow; my eye’s always been swollen,” Haliburton said, explaining that he developed a rash and blisters on his face because of the virus.
“For the most part, it’s bad days,” he continued.
Haliburton acknowledged that his weight gain has been a topic on social media. While he didn’t reveal how much weight he’s gained because of the medication he’s been taking, he said he’s “out of shape like crazy.”
He first said he put on “good weight,” implying that perhaps he was gaining muscle to what’s been a slight frame throughout his college and NBA playing career. However, Haliburton then backtracked to say the weight he’s gained recently wasn’t good, though he blames the medication rather than inactivity.
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For those more concerned about his recovery from the Achilles injury, Haliburton reassured reporters that he’s on track to return next season.
“I don’t even think about it anymore, to be honest with you,” he said, via the Indianapolis Star’s Dustin Dopirak. “I’m not really all that concerned at all. … I feel great. My body feels great. I feel like I’m in a great spot in terms of my leg.”
During the 2024-25 regular season, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 39% on 3-pointers. In the postseason, he scored 17.3 points and 8.6 assists with 34% shooting on 3s as the Pacers nearly won the NBA championship.
