Tyrese Haliburton writhing in pain on the floor in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals after suffering an Achilles injury is an image that will always haunt the Indiana Pacers.

Before Haliburton went down, the Pacers had a strong chance to finally win their first championship after capturing three titles in the ABA. Fate, however, played a cruel prank.

Instead, in the following season, Haliburton watched the New York Knicks end their 53-year title drought. Of all the teams, it had to be the Knicks, whom he buried in last year's conference finals, highlighted by his iconic game-tying shot in Game 1.

The 26-year-old guard admitted that he could not watch the Knicks, who have a longstanding rivalry with the Pacers, whoop it up with the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

“I usually watch the finals celebration. That's a special thing and an emotional thing to watch—guys winning a championship. But when the Knicks won, I thought to myself, ‘I got to turn this s*** off,'” said Haliburton on “Boardroom Talks.”

.@Hali reflects on the injury, falling one win short, and the @Pacers team that believed when no one else did.⁠ pic.twitter.com/GZVPLHkzwt

— Boardroom (@boardroom) September 22, 2026

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When asked if they would have beaten the Knicks had he been healthy, the two-time All-Star did not bat an eyelash.

“Would we win? Of course. I'm an NBA player. I'm a competitor,” answered Haliburton.

He rued that the Pacers went from competing for the championship to having one of the worst records in the league. But he stressed that their inspired run to the 2025 NBA Finals will forever be special, touting the unshakable belief in their locker room.

Now, he is eager to regain it.

Haliburton is expected to be fully healthy in the upcoming season. He will team up with Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac, Kelly Oubre Jr., Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard in carrying the Pacers back to respectability.