Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has been diagnosed with shingles and will be away from the team for the next two to three weeks, head coach Rick Carlisle announced Sunday, adding another challenge to the star player’s recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.
Haliburton, who suffered the Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last summer, has been sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season. He had been participating in a player-coach capacity from the bench during games whereas undergoing rehabilitation. Carlisle described the diagnosis as a “unique case” and a “unique situation,” noting that Haliburton began experiencing “odd symptoms” while traveling to Washington D.C. Earlier this week.
“He will likely make a full recovery,” Carlisle told reporters, according to ESPN. “This happened over the last few days. He was meeting us in D.C. And had some odd symptoms. It’s a very painful thing.”
Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus – the same virus that causes chickenpox. It manifests as a painful rash, and while not life-threatening, can cause significant discomfort, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The diagnosis comes at a difficult time for the Pacers, who are currently 15-42, holding the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Haliburton’s absence, initially due to the Achilles injury, has been a significant factor in the team’s struggles, which included a franchise-record 13-game losing streak last month. The team’s current record puts them on track for one of the worst single-season win percentages in franchise history.
Carlisle acknowledged the difficulty of competing at a high level without Haliburton, stating, “Trying to survive at a high level without a guy like that is extremely difficult.”
Haliburton is expected to return to the team after a recovery period of two to three weeks, but his continued absence further complicates the Pacers’ season.
