Apparent NBA playoff curse should put New Orleans Saints player on high alert during 2025 NFL season

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 7:13 PM ET

The NFL offseason has reached the slowest point, and the New Orleans Saints are probably itching to get back on the field in July. That being said, the NBA Finals just wrapped up. The Oklahoma City Thunder deservedly won the title, but the Indiana Pacers suffered a debilitating injury in game seven of the series.

Tyrese Haliburton suffered a gruesome Achilles injury during the first half of the contest that kept him off the court for the rest of the game.

NBA playoff curse for number zero

Wearing the jersey number zero has been a very unlucky premise in the NBA over recent seasons. Three key players (Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton) all tore their Achilles during the playoffs. All three wore that number.

Weirdly and wildly unfortunate situation: pic.twitter.com/QVleONde13
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 23, 2025

Of course, this seems to just be a coincidence. That being said, when it happens in the postseason on the biggest stage, to important players, people begin to take note.

The seriousness of the injury was apparent from the moment the Pacers' star guard -- who had been playing through a strained right calf -- crumpled to the floor without contact as he was attempting to drive to the basket with 4:55 remaining in the opening quarter.

Haliburton put no weight on the leg and had his face wrapped in towels as he was taken to the locker room. He spent the rest of the game surrounded by family, with applause that could be heard from outside the locker room as he watched the Pacers attempt to clinch a championship without him. -- ESPN

"He authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA, with dramatic play after dramatic play. It was just something that no one’s ever seen."

Coach Carlisle on Tyrese Haliburton's 2025 playoff run. pic.twitter.com/vy6yJ5SFGT
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 23, 2025

For the Saints, a veteran player should think about his current jersey number due to this history on the court.

Saints' Ugo Amadi needs to avoid that fate

Defensive back Ugo Amadi is currently the sole player wearing number zero for the Saints this season, according to the team website's roster. Amadi has been with the Saints as a depth defender since 2023. He's been in the league since 2019.

Amadi has played in 28 games for New Orleans over the past two seasons, so he has played a notable role. This season, there is a legitimate chance that he plays the most defensive snaps of his Saints tenure so far due to the inexperience in the secondary.

Regardless, hopefully the veteran DB will be able to stay healthy and avoid any sort of curse that has recently haunted the NBA.