'I don't regret it': Tyrese Haliburton writes optimistic post on social media after surgery

Indianapolis Star

3 hours ago

INDIANAPOLIS -- After surgery to repair his torn right Achilles tendon in New York on Monday evening, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton posted a lengthy message social media that he if he had to do it all over again, he'd still play in Game 6 and Game 7 of the NBA Finals despite a strained right calf.
Haliburton suffered the first injury in Game 5 and went through around-the-clock treatment to play to try to lead the Pacers to their first NBA championship in franchise history. He helped the Pacers win Game 6 to force a Game 7 on Sunday night in Oklahoma City, but went crumbled to the floor on a drive with 5 minutes to go in the first quarter and had to be carried to the locker room. An MRI confirmed an Achilles tendon tear on Monday and he flew to New York for a surgery with Dr. Martin O' Malley.
Haliburton said after Game 5 that as long as he could walk he wanted to play. After Game 6 he said he knew that if he didn't give it a try, he would regret it. In Game 7, the worst-case scenario played out on the Paycom Center floor, but Haliburton said he'd still make the same bet.
"I know I'll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player," Haliburton wrote. "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."
That's not to say Haliburton had gotten over the pain yet -- physical or emotional.
"Man," he wrote. "Don't know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I've worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense."
He didn't say much about the surgery itself, but did say the feeling wasn't enjoyable.
"Now that I've gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I'm going to 'come back stronger," Haliburton wrote. "What a cliche lol, this (expletive) sucks. My foot feels like dead weight, fam. But what's hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I'm rambling, but I know this is something I'll look back on when I'm through this, as something I'm proud I fought through. It feels good to let this (expletive) out without y'all seeing the kid ugly cry."
Haliburton commiserated with the Pacers' fan base, which has seen its stars fall victim to devastating injury over and over with Paul George's broken leg and Victor Oladipo's quadriceps tear being among the most recent painful examples. The Pacers have never been as close to an NBA title as they were in these Finals, the first in which they have ever won three games.
"Indy, I'm sorry," Haliburton said. "If any fan base doesn't deserve this, it's y'all. But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don't doubt for a second that y'all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours."
And despite the cliche, Haliburton vowed to use the opportunity to get stronger.
"I think Kobe (Bryant) said it best when in this same situation," Haliburton wrote. '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. I will do everything in my power to get back right."