NBA Exec: Tyrese Haliburton Isn't Playing with 'Same Pop' amid Slow Start for Pacers
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVNovember 1, 2024
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton entered the 2024-25 NBA season having made back-to-back All-Star teams, but he hasn't played anywhere close to that level through his first five games.
Haliburton is averaging just 14.6 points, 6.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers made and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting only 34.6 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from three-point range.
An anonymous NBA executive gave ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst their take on Haliburton's slow start, saying: "Last year, he'd pull up from just inside half court and bury shots. He just isn't playing with that same pop this year."
After beginning his career with the Sacramento Kings, Haliburton was traded to the Pacers during the 2021-22 season, and he has blossomed into a star in Indiana.
He was named an All-Star for the first time in 2022-23, averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 three-pointers made and 1.6 steals per game. He was arguably even better last season, averaging 20.1 points, 10.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals en route to an All-NBA Third Team selection.
Haliburton was rewarded for his performance by being named to the United States men's basketball team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and although he played sparingly, he came home with a gold medal.
The 24-year-old is a big reason why the Pacers were one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2023-24 NBA season, leading them to an unexpected Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Indiana is only 2-3 so far this season due in part of Haliburton's uneven play, but the Pacers showed last season that they have the talent to make some noise when fully healthy and hitting on all cylinders.
In addition to Haliburton, the Pacers boast a lineup that includes Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and a host of other productive players.
However, Haliburton is the one who makes everything go as the primary ball handler and playmaker, so the Pacers' success this season will largely rely on him finding his game.
