Picture this: a pro athlete looks a bit different, slightly less sharp, and the internet quickly forms its own opinions. The Indiana Pacers hero, Tyrese Haliburton, is going through that cycle right now. The once-skinny 26-year-old feels long gone. Everyone has noticed that he has gained weight. But no one knows why… On Monday, the Pacer met the media and revealed that his battle with shingles has been very difficult, and despite changing his medication thrice, he’s still dealing with it.
“This has sucked,” Haliburton said. “My dad had it during the finals on his stomach. A lot of people get it there, but mine’s been on my face. So, I couldn’t even go in front of a camera if I wanted to early. Because my eye was basically closed shut, and it was all over my face. They told me that I would be really itchy, and then I wasn’t itchy for the first two weeks. I just had a bad rash. Then once the rash went away, the itching came, and it’s been miserable.”
Haliburton explained that wearing glasses was a way to stop himself from touching or irritating his face while dealing with the painful condition, protecting the infected area and preventing further discomfort, rather than making a style or fashion statement. He also shared the side effects of heavy medication.
#Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton “lost part my eyebrow” due to face shingles:
“I’ve been taking unbelievable amounts of medication to try to get rid of it. It hasn’t worked. It’s obviously caused me to gain weight … That’s been a topic of conversation through social media …” pic.twitter.com/nRSpgnzjm6
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) April 13, 2026
#Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton “lost part my eyebrow” due to face shingles:
“I’ve been taking unbelievable amounts of medication to try to get rid of it. It hasn’t worked. It’s obviously caused me to gain weight … That’s been a topic of conversation through social media …” pic.twitter.com/nRSpgnzjm6
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) April 13, 2026
“I’ve lost part of my eyebrow,” Haliburton said. “My eye is always swollen from itching it. I have good days and bad days, but for the most part, it’s bad days. So it has not been any fun. I’m still honestly dealing with it. I’ve been taking unbelievable amounts of medication to try to get rid of it. It hasn’t worked. It’s obviously caused me to gain weight and look a little bigger. And so that’s been a topic of conversation through social media and stuff, but what can you do?”
Haliburton had already gained 30 lbs during his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, and struggles to control or shed it now. “I’ve been drowning my sorrows in cookies and ice cream and stuff,” the Pacer joked on Mind the Game. Worse of all, the new medication makes him feel hungry more often than usual. He explained that the experience has been frustrating and uncertain. Head coach Rick Carlisle has supported his player and assured that he “will make a full recovery.” Although he feels two months is long, others with similar experiences still consider it early. Hali remains patient, but admits there is no timeline yet.
The Indiana Pacers struggled without Tyrese Haliburton, who’s taking baby steps in getting himself back to the action
The Indiana Pacers struggled this season, winning only 19 of 82 games as injuries and key roster changes, including Myles Turner’s departure, disrupted momentum. Only the Washington Wizards finished with a lower record of 17-65. As a result, the Pacers faced a significant uphill battle throughout the season. Tyrese Haliburton addressed the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ahead of Sunday’s final game against the Detroit Pistons.
“Don’t get used to the Pacers not playing in April, May, and June,” he said. This message erupted among the fans who called him out online. Comments like, “Haliburton been having some haliburgers” and “Haliburton, please put down the cheesecakes…” floated around social media. Well, these so-called supporters focused on the 26-year-old’s weight gain, even though the true reason was still a secret.
But now, we know why Haliburton gained weight, to begin with. The right Achilles tendon injury has kept the guard out for months and limited his ability to achieve peak physical condition. Recently, he took a major step forward by returning to full 5-on-5 action for the first time since June 2025. As a result, his recovery has shown clear progress. However, Haliburton still needs time to rebuild full match fitness. Even so, there is a growing belief that he will be ready and impactful by the start of next season.
So, illness, pain, and medication reshaped perception around Haliburton far more than performance ever did. As criticism grew louder, context stayed hidden, but now, the truth is out, and shingles are the cause of all his troubles.
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