Last season's playoffs dealt brutal blows to multiple stars as Haliburton was not the only standout to sustain an Achilles tear. Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum and former Milwaukee Bucks veteran Damian Lillard suffered the same injury in the 2025 postseason. Neither has a definitive timeline for a return.

Assistant GM Ted Wu told Setting the Pace that it isn't impossible for Haliburton to return next year, while he was talking about the disabled player exception that was granted to the Pacers.