Stars react to Haliburton’s crucial NBA Finals injury: See what LeBron James had to say

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers suffered an Achilles injury during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, leading to a 103-92 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Published on: Jun 24, 2025, 17:26:58 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Indiana Pacers suffered a crushing loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder during their decisive NBA Finals game on June 22. Tyrese Haliburton, point guard for the Pacers, had reported suffering strain in his right calf a few games back but insisted on continuing to play and win the title.

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers sustains an injury during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Getty Images via AFP)

The basketball world witnessed a tough loss when Haliburton fell down while trying to deliver a basket during the first quarter. With nine points in his pocket and an Achilles injury on his foot, the Pacers point-guard was ruled out of playing the rest of the game as medical teams rushed him to the locker room. The Pacers finally lost out to the Thunder in a crushing 103-92 loss.

Basketball world reacts to Tyrese Haliburton's injury

Soon, messages of condolences and shock started to pour in following the tragedy. Former Finals MVP title winner LeBron James reacted by writing “F**K !!!!!!!!” along with two emoticons to express his shock and dismay at the moment.

Sports analyst Pat McAfee honored the downed player by tagging him and writing “we appreciate the hell out of you man”. With a 22-years-long illustrious career in the NBA, Vince Carter expressed his disappointment by writing, “Damn man smh” with three emoticons of folded hands.

“Awwwws Damn! @TyHaliburton22 is down. @TyHaliburton22 is down. Awww damn! None of us want to see this. We don’t want a title decided this way. Especially the way he was playing!!!! Awwwww Damn!!!!!” wrote sports television personality Stephen Smith.

Fans of the sport also took to social media to express their dismay at the situation. Prior to his early exit from Game 7, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points per game in the regular season and 17.3 points in the 2024-25 postseason. Haliburton’s injury may rule him out for the 2025-26 season as well, according to USA Today.

By Stuti Gupta

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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