Indiana Pacers Face An Eerily Familiar Challenge

He missed nearly the entire 2014-15 season with a tibia and fibula fracture. George returned to the court the following April for the final six regular-season games. Although he has made several All-Star and All-NBA teams since then, the 35-year-old admits he hasn’t been the same player since that moment. 

Pacers’ Injury Curse Continues

Four and a half years later, history repeated itself for Indiana. Star guard Victor Oladipo ruptured his right quad tendon while running on a fast break against then-Raptor Pascal Siakam. Gainbridge Fieldhouse went silent and watched in shock as Oladipo left the court on a stretcher. 

This rare basketball injury would not only sideline Oladipo for an entire calendar year but also change the trajectory of his career forever.

He revealed that his initial surgery to repair the ruptured tendon turned out to be unsuccessful. After the surgeon failed to properly attach the full tendon to his kneecap, he experienced unrelenting pain, to the point that it would hurt to even walk. At the time, Oladipo believed that was all part of the healing process and that the pain would eventually dissipate.

He then sprained a ligament in his right kneecap, the same leg in which he ruptured his quad as a member of the Miami Heat in 2021. Oladipo claimed this sprain occurred because his tendon wasn’t fully attached to the knee in the first place— a result of the botched quad surgery. He underwent the knife again in May 2021 to rectify that surgery and fully attach his tendon. 

Oladipo’s injury nightmares didn’t end there as he tore his left patellar tendon in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs. 

The Journey Back

The myriad of injuries Oladipo suffered derailed his NBA career something Pacers’ fans pray doesn’t happen to Tyrese Haliburton.

Since that last patellar tear two years ago, Oladipo has yet to make a return to the NBA court. He has since been traded and waived by multiple teams while continuing to rehab. Despite this, he insists that his basketball career is not yet over and fully intends on making a comeback.

Haliburton, meanwhile, has a long road ahead of him. He will likely miss all of the 2025-26 season as he rehabs his torn Achilles. 

The good news: Haliburton is young, and his Achilles tear is more common than the injuries George and Oladipo suffered. Still, he did experience a major setback. There are no guarantees that the 25-year-old will return as the same player when he steps on the hardwood again.

Down this Road Again

Preparing to play a season without their star player is something the Pacers are accustomed to doing.

The Pacers ultimately moved on from Oladipo and George a few years after their injuries, rebuilding those teams. Although most of their players are currently still under contract, there is no clear indication as to which direction the organization will take come fall. 

Will they tank, and essentially take a year off to let Haliburton fully recover? Will they try to remain competitive and see how far the team can go without him? Do they want to wait and see if one of their draft picks or young stars develops with more opportunity?

The unwillingness to pay up for unrestricted free agent Myles Turner, now with the Bucks on a four-year, $107 million deal, has provided clarity on the Pacers’ approach. 

Haliburton’s injury undoubtedly put a damper on Indiana’s quest for its first NBA title. Not only did the Game 7 devastation affect the Pacers’ chances of becoming champions this year, but it also sank their odds of avenging their heartbreak this upcoming season.

Same But Different Injuries

All three players’ injuries are different. However, they all came in years when the Pacers were expected to make deep playoff runs. That’s what will sting the most.

The Pacers’ best hope is that Haliburton fully recovers and can still be close to the franchise player they saw in the playoffs. They have a long road ahead filled with unknowns, but they’ve been here before.