Haunted by the Avatar: Haliburton’s Comic Take on Gilgeous-Alexander’s NBA 2K26 Persona | NBA News – The Times of India

Tyrese Haliburton’s reaction to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s avatar on NBA 2K26 was humorously dramatic, stating it was “giving me nightmares”. Even though Haliburton lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2025 NBA Finals, he still enjoys some good-natured banter with the team’s star, Gilgeous-Alexander.

During the upcoming 2025 NBA season, Haliburton is focused on recovering from his Achilles’ injury. He was unable to contain his laughter when he came across Gilgeous-Alexander’s avatar in a 2K26 NBA livestream.

Despite suffering a defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA finals, one of the Indiana Pacers’ top performers, Haliburton still finds himself unsettled by Gilgeous-Alexander who was the 2025 NBA MVP. His reaction when he came across Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2K26 NBA avatar in a livestream was hilarious and unforgettable.

The 2025 NBA championship helped Gilgeous-Alexander secure the MVP title. Haliburton was suffering from a torn Achilles at the time, which was a significant factor in the Pacers’ loss.

Haliburton recently appeared on the Impaulsive podcast hosted by Logan Paul and shared an update regarding his Achilles tear recovery and his expected return date to the game. Despite being a star for the Miami Heat, he did not sound too optimistic about his return to the NBA. Haliburton hinted at making a proper comeback around the 2026 NBA season.

Haliburton contributed significantly to the Indiana Pacers’ reaching game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals. However, after he was seen limping during a post-game press conference, speculation mounted across the league. Once his injury was confirmed, the focus shifted to winning game 6, which instead went in favor of Gilgeous-Alexander and his team.