Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has been diagnosed with shingles and will be away from the team for multiple weeks, adding another health setback to a season in which he has already been ruled out with a torn Achilles.
Coach Rick Carlisle confirmed the diagnosis, saying, “It’s a very painful thing. He will make a full recovery, but this happened over the last few days.” Haliburton had been around the team in a non-playing capacity while recovering from the Achilles injury that ended his 2025-26 season.
Carlisle added that Haliburton’s outlook remains positive despite the setback. “It’s a unique case and a unique situation, but I talked to him a few times and he’s always in a good mood, so he’ll get through it,” he said.
Pacers at 15-43 without Haliburton as primary playmaker
Indiana’s 15-43 record is the second-worst in the NBA. Haliburton’s torn Achilles removed the team’s lead ball-handler and primary offensive initiator before the season began, and the Pacers have been unable to replicate his playmaking through other roster combinations.
The injury issues have extended beyond Haliburton, with multiple players missing significant time throughout the season. The resulting roster instability has prevented Indiana from establishing consistent rotations, contributing to a pattern of competitive games that the Pacers have been unable to close out.
Shingles diagnosis keeps Haliburton away from team facility
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash and typically requires several weeks of recovery. The diagnosis means Haliburton will be separated from the team during a stretch where his off-court presence — film sessions, locker room communication, and mentoring younger players — had been his primary contribution while rehabbing the Achilles.
Haliburton is expected to make a full recovery from the shingles and resume his Achilles rehabilitation once cleared to return to team activities.
Pacers’ draft positioning and offseason outlook with Haliburton’s return
Indiana’s record positions the team for a high selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, which provides the front office with an opportunity to add a significant talent to a roster that will look substantially different once Haliburton returns healthy. The Pacers’ remaining schedule functions primarily as a development window for younger players who have received expanded minutes due to the team’s injury situation.
Haliburton’s Achilles recovery timeline is the most important variable in Indiana’s 2026-27 planning. If he returns to full health and regains his pre-injury form, the Pacers’ roster — supplemented by a lottery pick — would have a different foundation than the one that produced a 15-43 record this season.