ASSOCIATED PRESS
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was back on the basketball court and back on his feet Saturday.
No, he wasn’t running or shooting — it’s far too early for that just two months into his Achilles tendon rehab, an increasingly common recovery in the NBA. But it was progress.
And being at the Indiana Pacers Athletic Center in suburban Indianapolis, surrounded by 300-plus eager youth basketball campers, brought back Haliburton’s million-dollar smile, too.
“I’m walking in my boot, getting closer to walking full time in my shoe, so that’s exciting,” he said. “Every couple of weeks, it’s kind of a new benchmark, a new achievement. So it’s the small wins right now. There are good days, bad days, so every day is kind of Groundhog Day. I’m just trying to get well.”
Saturday was a good day. He had made enough progress to pose for pictures, stand for interviews, and walk, in a protective boot, around the facility.
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None of it would have been possible back in late June when this event was initially scheduled. Those plans changed the moment Haliburton’s strained right calf quivered during the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Haliburton immediately crashed to the floor, leaving teammates, coaches and fans in disbelief.
He needed help to leave the court and watched the rest of the game from the locker room with his father, John. The Pacers came up short that night, and Haliburton left the arena on crutches, knowing the likely diagnosis — surgery that would cost him all of next season.
The silver lining: Haliburton said he won’t rush the recovery and he’s rehabbing with Indiana’s other prominent injured star, two-time WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark. She hasn’t played since July 15 because of an injured right groin, her third muscle injury this season.
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