Viral Kobe Bryant response after injury blow offers inspiration to Tyrese Haliburton after brutal setback

Kobe Bryant’s message after a serious injury has gone viral while offering hope and inspiration to Tyrese Haliburton after he suffered a major setback.

After having won five championships, Bryant was still trying to lead the LA Lakers to more glory.

The 'Black Mamba' was averaging over 27 points in the 2012-13 game and trying to lead his team to the playoffs. But late in the season he suffered a serious Achilles injury while playing against Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors.

The Hall of Famer went on to make two free-throws before going out of the game. After the game it was announced that he had torn his Achilles, a similar injury Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night (22 June).

Back in 2012, Bryant issued a passionate statement after his injury showcsing his desire to work harder and return back to the game.

One of the lines from his message was: "'If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear.' I've always loved that quote. That's 'mamba mentality' - we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer."

Bryant was back months later in the 2013-14 season but suffered another injury that limited him to just six games that year.

He went on to another rehab and came back in the 2014-15 season, where he played 35 games, before retiring in 2016.

Haliburton message after injury

Haliburton referred to Bryant's message and sent out his own message on X after his own Achilles injury in Game 7.

He was the star player on the Indiana Pacers team and guided the team to the Finals against the overwhelming favourites in Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 25-year-old had suffered a calf injury in Game 5 against the Thunder and was questionable for Game 6, but he decided to play.

Pacers went on to win there and set up an all important Game 7, but Haliburton managed to play only seven minutes before tearing his Achilles.

Prior to the injury, Haliburton was playing brilliant as he scored nine points and the Pacers were looking good as well. They tried their best to fight it out without Haliburton, but in the end the Thunder managed to take the win.

Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.

Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025

After the game, Haliburton was seen waiting to greet his teammates outside the locker room.

He underwent a surgery and put out a long message, including the words from Bryant's post.

"I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation - 'There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever'.

"And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right," he tweeted.