Tyrese Haliburton shined as one of the Indiana Pacers‘ top players during their best season in 25 years. In the playoffs, he teamed up with Pascal Siakam to make a significant impact, averaging 21 points per game in the conference finals against the New York Knicks. However, an anonymous players’ survey by The Athletic named him the most overrated player just before the postseason. In a recent interview, Haliburton revealed how he handled this unexpected criticism.
“I think it came out towards the end of the season… I think it was pretty funny, like all my boys just joking with me about it, texting me all the time, just talking. And I’ve just, I’ve come to be the guy who just uses everything as fuel… I think that just added more fuel to the fire as a group,” Tyrese Haliburton said, via ESPN.
During the 2024-25 regular NBA season, Tyrese struggled to replicate his previous performances, averaging 18.6 points per game. This dip in production drew considerable criticism toward his $45.5 million by year contract with the Pacers. However, Tyrese turned the narrative around in the postseason, demonstrating his leadership skills and silencing many of his detractors as he led the Pacers.
Tyrese Haliburton earns high praise from Boston Celtics legend after standout playoff run
Tyrese Haliburton displayed remarkable consistency throughout the postseason series, but he truly shone against the New York Knicks. During those games, he emerged as a leading scorer for the team, surpassing 30 points twice and consistently showcasing his exceptional playmaking abilities over six games. Following this standout performance, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce was quick to offer his praise.
Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Three of the 2025 NBA Finals
“Top 10 easy. He’s easily a top 10 player… People forget this guy brought the Indiana Pacers to the Conference Finals last year and was a three-point shot from Jaylen Brown away from stealing Game 1…This year, I’m really seeing the potential of this team all because of one man, who influences winning more than… not Steph or Edwards, but certainly I would’ve taken him over LeBron and Brunson,” Paul Pierce said, via SPEAK.
see also
Indiana Pacers star delivers bold take on championship chances after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury
Tyrese Haliburton’s unexpected new role with Pacers after season-ending injury
Tyrese Haliburton has already established himself as one of the NBA’s elite players. Unfortunately, his absence in the 2025-26 season will keep him from showcasing his skills both during the regular season and in the postseason. Despite this setback, he remains a vital part of the team. According to general manager Chad Buchanan, Tyrese will take on a new role with the franchise off the court.
“You’ll see him out, we’ll probably lean on him doing some scouting next year for us to have him help with trades. He’s very intelligent when it comes to the NBA and the Draft,” Chad Buchanan said, via Setting The Pace.
