Tyrese Haliburton leans on faith, quotes Kobe Bryant after getting surgery

Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his right Achilles tendon Sunday in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the OKC Thunder. The Indiana Pacers put on a resilient performance, but without their best player, they lost 103-91. Haliburton underwent surgery on Monday to fix the issue.

The Pacers star wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following the operation:

“At 25, I’ve already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I’ll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player.”

Tyrese Haliburton also emphasized a Kobe Bryant quote:

“I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation. ‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world than 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."

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Having the late Kobe Bryant as inspiration following his Achilles injury was the right call for Tyrese Haliburton. The legendary Laker also suffered the same injury in April 2013. Bryant writhed in pain after blowing out his Achilles tendon but stayed in the game to hit two clutch free throws. Haliburton could not have chosen a more apt model.

Haliburton went down in pain in the first quarter of Game 7 on Sunday. He tried to drive against OKC Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but fell to the floor in agony. The Indiana Pacers star could not even put weight on his leg, so he had to be helped to the locker room by teammates and the training staff.

Indiana refused to quit but could not overcome Oklahoma's advantage in firepower. The Thunder defense also made it difficult for the Pacers to overturn an 81-68 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Tyrese Haliburton expresses no regret playing in Game 7 despite dealing with calf strain

Tyrese Haliburton's injuries in the NBA Finals went from significant to devastating in two weeks. Following his surgery on Monday, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

"And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special."

Haliburton injured his calf in Game 2 but played through it. Three games later, he re-aggravated an injury that nearly forced him out of the series. He vowed to play even after the Indiana Pacers announced that he had a calf strain.

The point guard survived Game 6 unscathed but could not even finish the first quarter of Game 7. Despite how his magical run ended, he had no regrets.

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About the author

Michael Macasero

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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