Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s most vulnerable moment of his career was unexpectedly captured in the locker room after tearing his Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Now, with the release of Netflix’s “Starting 5” Season 2, Haliburton is sharing the story behind the footage, and the emotional toll it took to relive it.
Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals was supposed to be a crowning moment for Haliburton and the Pacers. Instead, it became a nightmare. Just minutes into the first quarter, Haliburton collapsed on a drive, clutching his leg in agony. The diagnosis: a torn Achilles tendon. The injury not only ended his season (and the following) but also dashed Indiana’s hopes of a historic championship.
What fans didn’t know at the time was that Netflix had unprecedented access to the Pacers’ locker room as part of their documentary series. Haliburton’s longtime friend and personal videographer, Zachery Remy, was also present, quietly filming behind the scenes.
“The camera was in the locker room when I got hurt,” Haliburton explained. “The people at Netflix are so amazing. They allowed Remy, who is my photographer and videographer, to help film clips that also went to Netflix.”
But Haliburton was so overwhelmed by the injury that he didn’t even realize Remy was filming.
“I never knew he was in there. I never knew any of those clips would go out because I didn’t know the cameras were in there at all.”
Weeks later, Haliburton was given the chance to preview the final episode before its release. What he saw shook him to his core.
“It was really tough for me to watch seeing me get hurt,” he said. “We never spoke about it. So when I saw that, I got overwhelmed again. That is a very tough and private moment for me… one of the hardest moments of my life.”
Despite the pain, Haliburton ultimately approved the footage, recognizing its authenticity and emotional power.
Haliburton’s reflection is a rare glimpse into the emotional complexity of being a public figure in the age of constant documentation.
“I’m thankful that Remy was in there, and I’m thankful people get to see it,” he said. “I don’t want to ever come across that I was ever doing anything for the camera or that it wasn’t real or genuine. Everything in there was real. It’s really who I am.”
Though Haliburton will miss the 2025–26 season, his story continues to inspire. By allowing viewers into his most vulnerable moment, he’s redefining what it means to be a leader, not just through performance, but through authenticity.
As “Starting 5” continues to spotlight the lives of NBA stars, Haliburton’s episode stands out.
