Basketball Injury Report: Tatum and Haliburton Return from Achilles Tears as Mike James Goes Down

The Achilles tendon remains basketball’s most feared equalizer, but this week proved it is no longer a career death sentence. After 16 grueling months of rehabilitation, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton finally returned to the NBA hardwood. Both superstars ruptured their Achilles during the 2025 postseason, turning this week's preseason openers into massive emotional milestones.[1][2]

Tatum looked entirely unbothered by the 16.5-month layoff during his preseason debut against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics star poured in 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished four assists in just 26 minutes of action. Shooting 9-of-19 from the field, Tatum showed no hesitation when attacking the rim or elevating for his signature perimeter jumpers.[1]

The mental hurdle of an Achilles tear often outlasts the physical recovery, but Tatum insists he has cleared both. He recently revealed the depths of his early rehab, noting there were days he could not walk up stairs. Now, Celtics president Brad Stevens has confirmed Tatum is completely off the injury report.[1]

Spending last October watching training camp from the weight room gave Tatum a profound new appreciation for the game. He enters his tenth season carrying a heavier scoring burden, but feels more physically and mentally confident now than before the injury.[1]

“Last year was very tough for me,” Tatum said of his grueling rehabilitation. “It's just a different level of appreciation of getting to be a part of everything and the game that I love with my teammates.”[1]

Haliburton’s return carried its own cinematic weight, taking place at Hilton Coliseum on the campus of his alma mater, Iowa State. The Pacers guard had not played since tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He logged 16 first-half minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with seven points and six assists.[2]

The adrenaline of the moment admittedly caught up with the Pacers' floor general. Haliburton admitted the game felt incredibly fast and that he needed to slow his internal pace down after 472 days away from live competition. He bought out the student sections behind both baskets, creating a raucous collegiate atmosphere for his professional return.[2]

Haliburton actually texted Tatum after the game to ask about the overwhelming speed of his return. Tatum, who came back slightly earlier last March, reassured the Indiana star that the chaotic feeling fades after a few live reps. For the Pacers, getting their franchise engine back on the floor is the first step toward replicating last year's Finals run.[2]

A minor scare followed when Haliburton tweaked his right ankle during the Iowa State exhibition, forcing him to miss Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. However, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle quickly shut down any panic. An MRI confirmed the ankle tweak was mild, and Carlisle emphasized that Haliburton's surgically repaired Achilles still looks structurally perfect.[3]

Just as the NBA celebrates two high-profile recoveries, the EuroLeague was dealt a devastating blow by the exact same injury. Anadolu Efes guard Mike James, the competition's all-time leading scorer, suffered an apparent Achilles tear on October 1 against Crvena Zvezda. The 36-year-old went down without any contact late in the third quarter.[4]

The injury casts a massive shadow over the Efes season, as the Turkish club had built its offensive identity around the veteran playmaker. James had just joined Efes this summer after a historic run with AS Monaco, where he became the first player in EuroLeague history to surpass 5,000 career points.[4]

Head coach Pablo Laso did not hide his worry after the game, acknowledging the brutal reality of the situation for his veteran point guard as he was helped off the floor in Belgrade.[4]

“It doesn't look good but we trust our medical staff,” Laso said, before subsequent medical evaluations confirmed James will be sidelined for seven to nine months.[4]

While the men’s leagues navigate long-term recoveries, the WNBA injury report is dictating the immediate stakes of the postseason. The Atlanta Dream are currently fighting for their playoff lives without their leading scorer, Allisha Gray. The four-time All-Star suffered a left hand injury during the first quarter of Game 1 of the semifinals against the New York Liberty.[5][6]

Gray initially attempted to play through the pain after hurting her pinky and ring fingers while closing out on a Sabrina Ionescu layup. She returned in the second quarter with her fingers taped but visibly struggled to grip the basketball. She eventually tore the medical tape off and left the game for good after diving for a loose ball.[5]

Despite losing their 19-point-per-game catalyst, the Dream managed to stun the Liberty 92-82 in that series opener. However, Gray’s absence looms large over the remainder of the highly contested matchup. Head coach Karl Smesko ruled her out for both Game 2 and Game 3, leaving Atlanta scrambling to replace her elite perimeter production.[5][6]

The contrast across the global basketball landscape this week is stark. For Boston and Indiana, the agonizing 16-month wait is finally over, and championship aspirations are back on the table. For Anadolu Efes and the Atlanta Dream, the grueling reality of sudden roster adaptation and injury management is just beginning.[1][2][4][5]