A day after having to depart the largest sport of his life, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shared his first public feedback since tearing his proper Achilles tendon early in Sport 7 of the NBA Finals.
“Words cannot express the pain of this letdown,” Haliburton wrote on X (previously Twitter) after present process surgical procedure Monday to restore the tendon. “The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.”
However for almost all of his five-paragraph publish, which Haliburton accompanied with a photograph of himself smiling and forming a coronary heart together with his palms from a hospital mattress, the two-time All Star additionally delivered a message of optimism and dedication. And he did so, partially, by quoting late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who overcame the identical damage in 2013.
“I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation,” Haliburton wrote. “‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.’
“And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right.”
Bryant’s phrases have been a part of a prolonged Fb publish early within the morning on April 13, 2013, hours after tearing his left Achilles tendon whereas driving to the basket throughout a sport towards the Golden State Warriors the earlier evening. After struggling the damage, Bryant famously stayed within the sport lengthy sufficient to sink two free throws.
In his publish, Bryant describes his uncooked feelings and even uncharacteristically expresses some self-doubt earlier than his well-known Mamba Mentality inevitably surfaces.
“All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times!” wrote Bryant, who was 34 on the time. “The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
“I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not!
Kobe Bryant writhes in pain after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 12, 2013, at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Its 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and Im wide awake. Forgive my Venting but whats the purpose of social media if I wont bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in.”
That’s the place Bryant writes the phrases that Haliburton quoted.
“We don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run,” Bryant wrote later within the publish. “We endure and conquer.”
True to his phrase, Bryant returned to the ground with the Lakers on Dec. 8, 2013. He handled a number of different accidents — together with a knee damage that ended his 2013-14 season simply six video games after he returned from the Achilles — earlier than retiring on the finish of the 2015-16 season, his twentieth within the NBA.
Greater than a decade later, a 25-year-old star is utilizing Bryant’s phrases as inspiration, days after being unable to assist his staff in a 103-91 loss to the Thunder with the NBA championship on the road.
Right here is Haliburton’s full publish:
“Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
“Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I’m going to ‘come back stronger’. What a cliche lol, this s— sucks. My foot feels like dead weight fam. But what’s hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through. It feels good to let this s— out without y’all seeing the kid ugly cry.
“At 25, I’ve already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I’ll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player. And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton falls to the court with an injury next to Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 22.
(Nate Billings / Associated Press)
“Indy, I’m sorry. If any fan base doesn’t deserve this, it’s y’all. But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don’t doubt for a second that y’all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours. I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation. ‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.’ And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right.
“My journey to get to where I am today wasn’t by happenstance, I’ve pushed myself every day to be great. And I will continue to do just that. The most important part of this all, is that I’m grateful. I’m grateful for every single experience that’s led me here. I’m grateful for all the love from the hoop world. I don’t ‘have to’ go through this, I get to go through this. I’m grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I’ll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton.
“Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.’”
