Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Battles Shingles, Gains Weight During Recovery

The young star guard opened up about his 'miserable' experience with the illness and its impact on his rehab and conditioning.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:12pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in muted tones, conceptually representing the challenges Tyrese Haliburton faces in his recovery from injury and illness.Haliburton's battle with shingles adds another obstacle to his recovery, but the young star's resilience shines through.Indianapolis Today

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton revealed during his end-of-season exit interview that he has been dealing with a case of shingles, which has led to significant weight gain and setbacks in his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered last season. Haliburton said the shingles have been 'miserable,' especially affecting his eye, and the medication has caused him to fall out of shape as he works to return to the court.

Why it matters

Haliburton is a rising star for the Pacers, and his health and conditioning will be crucial as the team looks to bounce back next season after a disappointing campaign. The shingles diagnosis is an unexpected setback that could delay his return and impact his performance when he does come back.

The details

Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season and was expected to miss the entire 2026-27 season. While rehabbing, he recently contracted shingles, which has led to significant weight gain and further setbacks in his recovery. Haliburton said the shingles have been 'miserable,' especially affecting his eye, and the medication has caused him to fall out of shape as he works to return to the court.

  • Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season.
  • Haliburton recently contracted shingles while rehabbing his Achilles injury.

The players

Tyrese Haliburton

A young star guard for the Indiana Pacers who is currently recovering from a torn Achilles and a bout with shingles.

Dejounte Murray

An NBA player who also returned this season after an Achilles injury, and was on a similar timeline to Haliburton's recovery.

Jayson Tatum

An NBA player who also returned this season after an Achilles injury, and was on a similar timeline to Haliburton's recovery.

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What they’re saying

“Tyrese Haliburton just had his exit interview. Said shingles has been miserable and he's still dealing with it, not sure how long he's going to be. Said medication has led to the evident weight gain and the whole thing has led to him being out of shape…”

— Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star reporter

“Haliburton went into detail about the shingles. Said he didn't itch for about the first two weeks, but then it got really bad. It's really his eye where everything's the worst. Said he's wearing glasses just so he doesn't scratch all the time.”

— Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star reporter

“I definitely feel like I will be at the same level, if not better… At this point in my life, what is pressure?”

— Tyrese Haliburton

What’s next

Haliburton will continue to rehab and recover from his Achilles injury and the shingles, with the goal of being fully healthy and ready to go for the start of the 2027-28 NBA season.

The takeaway

Haliburton's bout with shingles has been a significant setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles, leading to weight gain and conditioning issues. However, the young star remains confident he will return to form, showing his resilience in the face of these unexpected health challenges.