Tyrese Haliburton revealed the toll of a two‑month bout with shingles after a torn right Achilles cut his 2025‑26 season short. The 26‑year‑old said the rash spread over his face, left him with a missing eyebrow and swollen eye, and forced him to wear glasses to avoid touching the irritated skin during recovery process.

To combat the itching, Haliburton received a Botox injection and cycled through several medications. The latest drug, however, produced a noticeable side effect: a rapid weight gain that left his face puffy and swollen. He admitted, “I have good days and bad days, but for the most part it’s bad days” during this season.

Despite the setbacks, Haliburton returned to the bench for the season’s final weeks and has begun five‑on‑five scrimmages slated after the All‑Star break. He says the Achilles injury no longer dominates his thoughts, but he still faces a long summer of healing to regain full strength and conditioning before the next season arrives with confidence.

Haliburton’s father, John, suffered a similar infection last year, prompting the player to urge anyone over 50 to get the shingles vaccine. He warned, “I would tell anybody over 50 years old to get the vaccine.” The injury and illness underscore the fragile balance between recovery and performance for a franchise‑building guard in the NBA.