Tyrese Haliburton weighed in on the talk surrounding the uptick in Achilles accidents throughout the NBA final season, saying he does not imagine there is a definitive reply past that of dangerous luck.
Haliburton is within the midst of restoration from his personal Achilles tear, which he suffered early in Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. He was the third participant to endure an Achilles tear within the playoffs and the seventh general final season.
“I feel that there is like a notion when guys get injured or when this has occurred so many instances that everyone thinks that they’ve the reply to why that is taking place,” Haliburton mentioned Tuesday on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Present” in his first public look for the reason that harm. “Everyone thinks we play too many video games, we play too many minutes — all these issues may very well be true however I do not assume that’s what’s inflicting these accidents.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has additionally said he does not imagine the variety of video games or quantity of minutes are a serious contributing issue, telling ESPN earlier this summer season that almost all of Achilles accidents occur within the first half of the season.
“So I do not assume that anyone has essentially the reply,” Haliburton mentioned. “I feel accidents are simply dangerous luck typically and that is simply what occurred. I feel that is simply what occurs in sports activities typically.”
Haliburton’s proper Achilles tendon tear occurred as he was taking part in on a calf pressure he was formally identified with after Recreation 5 — nevertheless he was seen favoring the leg as early as after Recreation 2. Haliburton handed a calf stress take a look at earlier than Recreation 6 that allowed him to play and mentioned he was feeling nice going into Recreation 7.
“After Recreation 6, I am like ‘it is completed, it is gone, adrenaline goes to get to me, I’ll be good,'” Haliburton mentioned. “I’m going to Recreation 7, I really feel nothing. I really feel nice going into the sport. I feel that is why I had an ideal begin to the sport. My physique felt nice. Then clearly, that occurs ultimately.”
Now a month previous surgical procedure, Haliburton remains to be getting round on a scooter; the Pacers have already dominated him out for all of subsequent season. He says he is talked with each Kevin Durant — who tore his Achilles through the 2019 Finals — and Jayson Tatum, who suffered an Achilles tear just a few weeks earlier than Haliburton.
The Pacers level guard says his objective is to make use of the time between now and his anticipated return in 2026-27 one of the simplest ways he can.
“I feel I need to take this time to continue to grow my thoughts for the sport. Being round coach [Rick] Carlisle. Sit in on coaches conferences. [Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin] Pritchard, speaking to these guys and serving to. I really feel like I’ve a reasonably first rate basketball thoughts myself. So I am simply attempting to assist the blokes as finest as I can. I’ll be on the bench as quickly as I can stroll.”