Paul George speaks out in pain! The NBA medical risks behind Halliburton s rupture of Achilles tendon

In the seventh game of the NBA Finals, Indiana Pacers core guard Tyres Halliburton suddenly fell to the ground in the first quarter of the game, and the moment the Achilles tendon ruptured made the whole game fall silent. This scene not only shocked the audience, but also made Paul George, who was far away in Philadelphia, heartbroken.

In the latest episode of the solo podcast, Paul George did not hide his shock: "From the moment he fell, I knew it was over. This was so unfortunate because he started in a hot state and showed his leadership style. You can tell that he was ready. But as soon as I saw him fall, I watched the replay, he looked back and saw what happened, and then you could read it from his mouth shape - yes, it was over, I knew I was over. "

These words revealed the helplessness and sadness of professional players when facing injuries. Halliburton suffered a calf injury in Game 5, and scored 14 points in 23 minutes with an injury in the sixth game, dragging the series into a tiebreak battle. However, fate is a mess. In the most critical game, the more serious injury completely shattered his and the Pacers' dream of winning the championship.

Paul George's suggestion is worth pondering. As a veteran who is troubled by injuries, he has a personal understanding of the communication problems between players and the medical team: "At the end of the day, it depends on the players' own choices. But I think a better relationship needs to be established between players and the medical team and the management. I once told the team doctor that something is wrong here, but the reply I got was 'It'll be fine if you take some medicine. The situation became worse and worse. "

This remark reveals a common problem in NBA team medical management: there is information asymmetry between players' physical feelings and the professional judgment of the medical team. In the high-intensity environment of competitive sports, players often suffer from tremendous psychological pressure, both responsible for the team and protecting their careers.

Paul George also admitted that at a critical moment like Game 7 of the Finals, no player would choose to be absent: "You can't let anyone miss in Game 7, just like Durant's case, we can't let me absent in the Finals. " This professional spirit is worthy of admiration, but it also reveals the shortcomings of the system.

Halliburton's injury is expected to leave him missing the entire 2025-2026 season, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to young stars at their peak. The Pacers also lost the best chance to compete for the championship, and eventually lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-103.

The impact of this incident is much more than the outcome of a game. It reminds all NBA teams and players that while pursuing victory, they must pay more attention to the long-term health of their players. As Paul George suggested, establishing a more transparent and trusted medical communication mechanism may be the key to avoiding similar tragedies. The cruelty of professional sports lies in that greatness and tragedy are often only between the front lines. Halliburton's experience proves once again that nothing is more important than the health of a player. I hope this incident can promote the NBA to make more improvements in player health management, so that more players can go further and safer on the road to pursuing their dreams.