They’re going to build a Tyrese Haliburton statue in Indianapolis one day.
No matter how this playoff run ends for the Pacers, Haliburton has set his legend in stone.
He’s gone from the guy who an anonymous survey at the end of the postseason called “the most overrated player in the NBA” to legitimately the best true point guard in basketball.
Don’t believe it?
The other candidates for that title don’t quite fit. Stephen Curry is a stellar shooter who spends a lot of time off the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is really a 2-guard. Luka Doncic doesn’t fit the traditional point guard mold.
Maybe the other best candidate is Jalen Brunson, but Haliburton just outdueled him with an epic 31-point, 11-assist Game 1 masterclass in the Eastern Conference Finals.
And yeah, he hit that crazy buzzer beater to force overtime.
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Haliburton might’ve earned some doubts during his basketball career for his unconventional shooting mechanics.
But clearly, it goes in, particularly in late game situations and at the buzzer.
He’s the most consistently pure passer in basketball. Haliburton almost never turns the ball over despite his gaudy assist totals and usage rate.
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Many modern point guards are now score-first kind of players. Haliburton can score plenty, but he’s always going to be pass first.
When you put the whole package together, right now, there’s no one better.
And if that’s how good Haliburton is going to play, the Pacers have a legitimate chance at winning the NBA title.
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