Pacers Tyrese Haliburton Packs 30 Pounds in Achilles Recovery

Tyrese Haliburton told LeBron and Steve Nash on the Mind the Game podcast that he has put on 30 pounds while rehabbing his torn Achilles. He said some weight gain was deliberate to "be more physical at the rim" and "absorb contact" to get to the free-throw line, but admitted he has been "drowning my sorrows in cookie and ice cream." Haliburton, 25, averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists and led Indiana to the Finals before the Achilles injury in Game 7 against Oklahoma City ended his 2025-26 season. Merlin sees a deliberate metamorphosis. A stronger Haliburton could finish through contact and add a new layer to the Pacers offense, yet Achilles rehab and trimming the comfort-food pounds are delicate work. Coaches will balance strength, conditioning, and touch, and how he moves in training will tell the real story.