Indiana Pacers president Kevin Pritchard vowed that Tyrese Haliburton would be "back better than ever" after confirming he would miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season.

Haliburton was injured in Game 7 of their NBA Finals series with the Oklahoma City Thunder last month, tearing his right Achilles tendon, which required surgery to repair.

The Pacers went on to lose that game as Oklahoma clinched their first title in the franchise's history, though that task was made simpler once Haliburton had withdrawn.

The 25-year-old star point guard picked up the injury in the first quarter in Game 7, planting his right foot while attempting to drive and immediately collapsing to the floor.

As a result, the Pacers were outscored 56-43 in the second half as Oklahoma City finished off a 103-91 victory.

Haliburton also suffered a strained right calf in Game 5 but returned to that game and played in Indiana's Game 6 win, despite acknowledging an increased risk of long-term injury.

"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever," Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said Monday. "The surgery went well.

"It was a little higher and he gets more blood to that [as he recovers]. He will not play next year though.

"We would not jeopardize that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play."

The two-time All-Star scored nine points with three 3-pointers before leaving the floor. He averaged 14 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals.

President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard addressed the media following today’s Summer League practice. pic.twitter.com/5hzEWquMIa
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 7, 2025

Following his surgery, Haliburton posted to social media saying he had no regrets about playing through the calf strain that led to his Game 7 injury.

He was the third player to suffer a torn Achilles in the playoffs, along with the Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard and the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum.

Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 73 games (all starts) during the regular season and was selected to the All-NBA third team.

He has career averages of 17.5 points, 8.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 333 games (294 starts) for the Sacramento Kings (2020-22) and the Pacers.

"If you're asking me, would I have him do it over and over? I would not. I would not," Pritchard said of Haliburton's mentality.

"If I knew that he was going to get hurt, I would sacrifice that game because I care for the kid so much and want him to have an incredible career."