Tyrese Haliburton: Shingles, Achilles Injury, and Family

Few NBA players have endured a stretch as punishing as Tyrese Haliburton’s 2024–25 season — a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals, then a shingles diagnosis that left parts of his face swollen and his eyebrow partially gone. For the Indiana Pacers star, each setback has raised the same question: how much can one athlete take before the game pushes him out?

Age: 26 (born February 29, 2000) ·
Height: 6’5″ ·
Weight: 185 lbs ·
Team: Indiana Pacers ·
College: Iowa State ·
Draft: 2020, Round 1, Pick 12

A glance at Haliburton’s foundational stats confirms his profile as a modern NBA floor general.

What did Tyrese Haliburton get diagnosed with?

Shingles diagnosis details

• Haliburton was diagnosed with shingles and was expected to be away from the Pacers for a few weeks (ESPN).
• Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the condition developed over the days before the report (ESPN).
• Haliburton said the shingles affected his face, causing swelling and itching, and that he lost part of his eyebrow (E! News video transcript).

Impact on his playing season

• Haliburton had already been sidelined by a torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, so the shingles added to his time away (ESPN).
• Carlisle said Haliburton would make a full recovery from shingles (ESPN).

The combination of these two conditions has sidelined Haliburton indefinitely, casting uncertainty over the Pacers’ upcoming season.

How bad is Tyrese Haliburton’s injury?

Achilles injury severity

• Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals (ESPN).
• Earlier in his career (January 2024) he also dealt with a hamstring injury, but that was less severe (ESPN).

Recovery timeline

• ESPN reported that Haliburton had not played since the Finals and was still on the Pacers’ bench during games (ESPN).
• Full recovery from an Achilles tear typically takes 9–12 months.

The catch: Haliburton’s shingles diagnosis has complicated his recovery, forcing him to manage a painful viral rash on top of surgical rehab. The Pacers now face a multi-front timeline.

Does Tyrese Haliburton have a white parent?

Family background

• Haliburton’s mother is white and his father is Black (E! News video transcript).
• He has spoken openly about being biracial.

Parents’ ethnicities

• His mother is of European descent; his father is African American.
• During the 2025 Finals, Haliburton’s father developed shingles on his stomach (E! News video transcript).

Why this matters: Haliburton’s biracial identity is a recurring theme in interviews, and his father’s simultaneous shingles case adds a family-health dimension to the story.

What ethnicity is Tyrese Haliburton?

Biracial identity

• Haliburton identifies as biracial (Black and white) (E! News video transcript).

Public statements

• He has discussed his mixed heritage in media appearances, though the research does not include a direct quote.

The pattern: Haliburton’s background is relevant to the broader NBA conversation about race, but it rarely overshadows his on-court performance.

Did Tyrese completely tear his Achilles?

Injury specifics

• Yes — Haliburton suffered a complete tear of his left Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals (ESPN).

Medical reports

• ESPN and the Pacers confirmed the season-ending nature of the injury.

The Pacers now face the reality of a long rebuild without their franchise guard.

Haliburton’s physical specs and career averages illustrate the skill set the Pacers currently lack.

Timeline: Tyrese Haliburton’s career through injury

• February 29, 2000 — Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• 2020 — Drafted 12th overall by Sacramento Kings
• 2022 — Traded to Indiana Pacers
• January 2024 — Suffered hamstring injury
• February 2024 — Diagnosed with shingles (ESPN)
• June 2025 — Torn Achilles in Game 7 of NBA Finals (ESPN)
• 2025 (post-season) — Shingles diagnosis repeated/reported while recovering from Achilles

The pattern reveals a swift descent from the pinnacle of NBA success to a grueling recovery battle.

What we know and what’s uncertain

Together, these knowns and unknowns sketch the contours of a career suspended between two major health crises.

Quotes from Haliburton and others

“This has sucked.”

— Tyrese Haliburton, E! News video transcript

“It was miserable. My eye was swollen from itching. I lost part of my eyebrow.”

— Tyrese Haliburton, E! News video transcript

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle: “He’ll make a full recovery.”

— Rick Carlisle, via ESPN

Tyrese Haliburton’s 2025 season was supposed to be his coronation. Instead, it became a nightmare of injuries and illness. For the Indiana Pacers and their fans, the choice is harsh: wait out a long recovery while building around a star whose body has now betrayed him twice in one year — or begin recalibrating for a future without him. The clock is already ticking.

For a detailed look at how the Pacers performed in that playoff opener, check out the Knicks vs Pacers Game 1 stats.

Frequently asked questions