Pacers’ teammate of Tyrese Haliburton recalls being called ‘trash’, responds with six-word message

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers are closing in on their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years. Following a commanding Game 4 victory over the New York Knicks, the Pacers are just one win away from securing a spot in the league’s biggest stage, an opportunity to chase the franchise’s first NBA title.

While Haliburton continues to shine as the face of Indiana’s playoff run, he’s not the only player grabbing headlines. Aaron Nesmith has emerged as a key contributor, delivering crucial performances throughout the series against New York. His two-way impact has been pivotal, and fans across social media have taken notice.

After Sunday’s Game 4, Nesmith took a moment to address critics who doubted him following his 2022 trade from the Boston Celtics. At the time, a viral post on X dismissed him as “trash,” mocking the Pacers for what they received in the Malcolm Brogdon deal.

Now, nearly three years later, Nesmith fired back with a six-word message on Instagram: “S*, aged well ain’t it?” The post instantly stirred conversation among fans who remembered the slight, and now celebrate his rise. As the Pacers push toward the Finals, stories like Nesmith’s reflect the team’s resilience during a transformative stretch for the franchise.

Nesmith stepping up in the playoffs

Nesmith reflected on a turning point in his journey, a moment that fueled his drive to prove the doubters wrong. Now, as he thrives in the postseason, he’s clearly enjoying every minute of it with the Pacers. His performance has been especially impressive in the series against the Knicks.

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Over the last four games against New York, Nesmith has averaged 16.5 points per game—surpassing his overall playoff average of 15.1. He’s been red-hot from deep, hitting 13 of his 19 three-point attempts, while shooting 54.1% from the field (20-for-37) during that span.

Throughout the playoffs, he’s averaged 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 made free throws per game on 89.7% shooting from the line, all in 30.4 minutes per contest. Nearly every stat marks an improvement over his previous postseason run, except for free throw accuracy, where he posted a slightly better 91% last year.

Playing through pain in Game 4

Nesmith isn’t just putting up numbers, he’s gutting it out through injury. After the Pacers’ latest win over the Knicks, he spoke with The Athletic about battling through a right ankle sprain to stay on the court.

“Round-the-clock treatment. Did whatever I could to get my ankle ready. And (pauses)… you know, I just had to thug it out,“ Nesmith said after Game 4 victory over Knicks.