Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Diagnosed With Shingles

NBA star Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers has shingles and will be away from the team for a few weeks.

Haliburton hasn’t played this season because of the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals, but he has still been on the team’s bench during games.

“It’s a very painful thing,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He will make a full recovery, but this happened over the last few days. He was meeting us in D.C. and had some odd symptoms, and he came back here. That’s what’s happening with him. We certainly wish him a speedy recovery. 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.”

Shingles, which features a painful skin rash, is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox.

One of the top players in the NBA, Tyrese Haliburton had a fantastic 2024-25 campaign for the Pacers. He averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game and made the All-NBA Third Team.

Indiana beat the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks to advance to the 2025 NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Pacers in the NBA Finals in seven games.

Without Haliburton, the Pacers have struggled mightily this season. They have the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

The 25-year-old Haliburton signed a five-year, $244 million extension with the Pacers in July 2023. Indiana acquired Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in the Domantas Sabonis trade in February 2022. Haliburton is averaging 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in a Pacers uniform.

A two-time All-Star, Haliburton has played in 333 games with the Kings and Pacers. He has career averages of 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers at this year’s trade deadline. Zubac, Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will be the Pacers’ “Big 3” next season.