Tyrese Haliburton, a star player for the Indiana Pacers, will be sidelined for the entire 2025/26 NBA season.

Haliburton was dealing with a right calf strain when he fell during the first quarter of Indiana's 103-91 defeat against Oklahoma City in the championship-deciding game.

"I have every confidence that he will return even stronger," Pritchard stated. "He won't be playing next year. We won't take any risks with his health. Don't get your hopes up about him playing."

Haliburton led the Pacers to their first NBA Finals since 2000, averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.

"He performs best when he is highly motivated, and I believe that next year, he will be eager to show everyone that he is back," Pritchard remarked.

"We will need to proceed cautiously and ensure he is fully recovered. I anticipate great things from him as an All-NBA player - we witnessed clutch performances that I have never seen in the NBA."

This included a game-winning shot at the buzzer to defeat Oklahoma City in the finals' first game.

Pritchard mentioned that the Pacers haven't given up on becoming NBA contenders but acknowledge that they will miss something significant until Haliburton recovers from his surgery on June 23.

"We were just 24 minutes and an injury away," Pritchard said. "We face some challenges due to Ty's injury, but we are pleased with our current roster.

"We will have some players who can hopefully seize their chances, and when he returns, it will be the icing on the cake, I suppose."

Pritchard indicated that Haliburton's rehabilitation is progressing well.

"He is doing excellently," Pritchard noted. "He's making good progress, but the real work in terms of rehabilitation is just beginning, and it will be challenging."

Haliburton has expressed that he would seize the opportunity again to play in the decisive final game of the NBA Finals, even after sustaining the injury, but Pritchard disagreed.

"Would I want him to do it repeatedly? I would not," Pritchard stated. "If I had known he would get hurt, I would have sacrificed that game because I care for him deeply."

The Pacers have also lost another crucial player from their finals run, as center Myles Turner has signed a four-year free agent contract with Milwaukee.