As Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton looks to return from the Achilles injury that he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals, a head coach who saw it happen in front of him reflects on that time and how it's great to see him return. While Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals had the Pacers guard tear his Achilles tendon, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault spoke about Haliburton's return.

Haliburton suffered the heartbreaking injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals with under five minutes left in the first quarter, which led to the star missing the entire 2025-26 season. Having now returned in Indiana's preseason opener on Oct. 7, he is with the team for the first time in Oklahoma City since the injury, as Daigneault spoke about the “devastating” injury and how he is “happy” for Haliburton.

“Certainly happy for him,” Daigneault said, via Clemente Almanza. “Those injuries are devastating when they just are that long-term for anybody. You know, we've had guys that have endured that, and you can gain an appreciation for all the dark days you have to go through where there's seemingly no progress, and it takes a long time. And so, hat tip to him for getting himself back, and it's hard to think back on that series without thinking back to the whole run; that run that they had in the playoffs was incredible.”

“They were, I think, a four seed and really got on a heater in the playoffs, and he was driving that,” Daigneault continued. “You know, both his individual offense and what he does to activate his teammates with the advanced passing and the early passing puts everybody at an advantage, and so great player, and certainly happy to see him back.”

Mark Daigneault on Tyrese Haliburton being back in OKC for the first time since the 2025 NBA Finals: “It’s hard to think back on that series without thinking back to the whole run. That run that they had in that playoffs was incredible.” pic.twitter.com/8KauIur0hY

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 13, 2026

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At any rate, the Pacers take on the Thunder in a preseason matchup on Tuesday night.