Tyrese Haliburton Battles Shingles, Social Media ‘Fat’ Nickname

Haliburton Faces Health Woes and Online Criticism

Tyrese Haliburton, the dynamic point guard for the Indiana Pacers, is dealing with more than just his recovery from a tough Achilles injury. He’s also battling a painful bout of shingles and has become the target of online critics who’ve given him a rather unflattering nickname. Haliburton recently joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss his current situation, revealing the struggles he’s faced over the past eight weeks.

The Shingles Setback

The Pacers’ star guard explained that he’s been dealing with facial shingles for nearly two months. He’s tried multiple medications and even a Botox injection, but nothing has helped get rid of the painful condition. The side effects of the new medication have led to increased hunger and weight gain. Haliburton admitted that what he initially thought was bulking up for strength has now turned into unwanted weight, leaving him open to social media jabs.

“I’m being called Tyrese Hali-BURGER,” Haliburton revealed, sharing one of the nicknames he’s seen online. He contrasted this with his earlier positive outlook on gaining weight for strength, saying, “The bulking has turned into just fat. I’m just bigger for no reason.”

Injuries Halt Recovery Progress

The shingles outbreak couldn’t have come at a worse time, as Haliburton was on the road to recovery from an Achilles injury. His plan was to start playing five-on-five after the NBA All-Star break. However, the shingles forced him into a two-week period of no workouts. After starting to work out again, his eye began to swell shut due to the shingles, requiring another week and a half off. He has only recently started playing five-on-five again, describing the entire experience as “trash.”

Understanding Shingles

Haliburton expressed surprise at being diagnosed with shingles, as he believed it was an ailment typically affecting older people. He learned that shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. While the vaccine for shingles is recommended for those over 50, younger people are increasingly getting it due to stress. Since he had chickenpox, the virus remained dormant in his system and reactivated, causing the shingles.

He urged anyone over 50 to get the shingles vaccine, emphasizing how terrible the experience has been. The conversation highlighted how this illness put a significant halt to his Achilles recovery, a situation he described as a “terrible run of luck.”

Achilles Recovery and Future Outlook

Despite the setbacks, Haliburton feels good about his Achilles recovery. He mentioned that when he’s running or playing, he doesn’t even think about the injury anymore. While he acknowledges being a step behind sometimes, he’s back to doing everything: five-on-five, running, and cardio. He’s inspired by other players like Jayson Tatum and Dejounte Murray who have successfully returned from similar injuries.

Haliburton is looking forward to his return to the court, aiming to help the Pacers get back to being a top team. The team is currently in the lottery after a strong showing last year, where they reached game seven of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 65-Game Rule Debate

The conversation also touched on the NBA’s 65-game rule for player awards eligibility. Haliburton, who was personally affected by this rule in the past when a hamstring injury kept him from qualifying for All-NBA honors and a potential supermax contract, shared his thoughts. He believes the league had to implement something to encourage star players to play more games, but he also feels the rule needs adjustment.

“I think it’s a dumb rule,” Haliburton stated, recalling his past conversation with Commissioner Adam Silver. “I understand from the league’s perspective how we’re trying to get players to play. And I think at the end of the day, guys want to play.”

He pointed out that there will always be players who fall just short of the 65-game mark due to various circumstances. Haliburton suggested that voters, often media members, should have more discretion and feel for these situations, especially when missing out on All-NBA can cost players tens of millions of dollars in potential contract earnings. The significant financial impact of a media vote on player salaries was a point of concern.

Looking Ahead

Haliburton’s current focus is on continuing his recovery and getting back to full strength. He’s also preparing for his appearance at WrestleMania, where he shared his predictions for several matches. Despite the recent health challenges and online criticism, Haliburton remains optimistic about his future and the Pacers’ potential.

Source: Tyrese Haliburton on his weight gain: 'I'm being called Tyrese Hali-BURGER' 🍔 | The Pat McAfee Show (YouTube)