Tyrese Haliburton Battles Shingles During Achilles Recovery

Tyrese Haliburton opened up about a difficult and unexpected setback in his recovery process, revealing a two-month battle with shingles that significantly impacted his health.

The Indiana Pacers guard said the illness spread across his face, at one point leaving his eye nearly swollen shut and preventing him from appearing publicly.

“I couldn’t even go in front of a camera early because my eye was basically closed,” Haliburton said. “It was all over my face.”

Symptoms, Side Effects Complicate Recovery

Haliburton explained that the condition began with a rash before developing into severe itching and nerve pain. The illness has also led to visible side effects, including weight gain, facial swelling, and even the loss of part of his eyebrow.

Medication changes and treatments—including a Botox injection—have yet to fully resolve the issue, with Haliburton admitting that most days remain difficult.

“I’ve lost part of my eyebrow; my eye is always swollen,” he said. “I have good days and bad days, but for the most part it’s bad days.”

Setback Comes Amid Achilles Rehab

The timing has made the situation even more frustrating. Haliburton has already missed the entire season while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered during the NBA Finals, and the shingles diagnosis delayed his planned return to on-court activity.

Although he has recently resumed five-on-five scrimmages, the illness has slowed his conditioning and forced him to adjust his rehab timeline.

Still, Haliburton noted that his Achilles injury is no longer a major concern physically, shifting the focus entirely to overcoming the illness.

Long Road Ahead but Optimism Remains

Despite the challenges, Haliburton remains optimistic about his long-term outlook. With months remaining before next season, he believes time is on his side to regain full fitness.

He also used his experience to raise awareness, urging older individuals to consider vaccination against shingles after seeing firsthand how debilitating it can be.

As the Pacers look ahead, Haliburton’s recovery—both from injury and illness—will play a major role in determining the team’s trajectory next season.

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