Inside Tyrese Haliburton’s unimaginable celebrity ascension with Indiana Pacers

TO MOST NBA followers, informal or avid, Tyrese Haliburton’s celebrity leap has taken place over the previous few weeks.

There was the homage to Reggie Miller at Madison Sq. Backyard in Recreation 1 of the Jap Convention finals. The virtually statistically good 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound, five-steal, zero-turnover recreation in Recreation 4 towards the Knicks. After which, in fact, the shot he hit with 0.3 seconds remaining in Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals to beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 111-110, which silenced the loudest fan base within the league Thursday evening on the Paycom Middle.

Afterward, Haliburton charmed in his postgame interviews, as solely a sure caliber of superstars can, joking with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt that “we have been late to the occasion, too” when the host admitted he did not see the potential of this Indiana Pacers crew early within the season at Christmas once they have been beneath .500.

He even introduced his first signature Puma shoe — launched earlier within the day — to the rostrum with him and joked about how the kicks have been the “secret sauce” to his penchant for hitting huge photographs at such a excessive charge.

This season he has hit an astounding 13-for-15 game-tying or game-winning photographs within the remaining two minutes of the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation — the perfect discipline purpose share in a single season since play-by-play was first tracked in 1996-97, per ESPN Analysis.

However to those that know Haliburton greatest, this celebrity leap has been years within the making. And it began inauspiciously, on a random Saturday in late January in Philadelphia.

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HALIBURTON DIDN’T KNOW it on the time, however he was in his remaining weeks with the Sacramento Kings.

What he did know was that there was one thing lacking from his recreation. Or perhaps a number of issues. As a result of he was averaging solely 13.8 factors a recreation that yr, and people aren’t the type of numbers a younger participant in line for a most contract extension over the summer season places up.

His agent Dave Spahn contacted famend NBA abilities coach Drew Hanlen to see if he would meet together with his consumer and contemplate working with him. Hanlen agreed to fulfill however instantly put circumstances on the skilled relationship.

In his guide, “Cease [Bulls—ting] Your self,” Hanlen wrote: “The largest factor holding [Haliburton] again was his lack of scoring aggressiveness. So I offered a problem to him. I advised him that if he wished to work with me, he needed to have 14 discipline purpose makes an attempt the following evening towards the Sixers.”

Haliburton remembers that dinner properly.

“He advised me I’ve to imagine in myself earlier than he believes in me,” Haliburton advised ESPN after Recreation 1 on Thursday evening.

Unbeknownst to him, Hanlen had been learning his tape for a number of weeks, as a result of he additionally labored carefully with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, and the Sixers had engaged in commerce discussions with the Kings on a commerce that may’ve concerned Haliburton and Ben Simmons.

Hanlen beloved Haliburton’s passing means however apprehensive his lack of aggression in scoring would restrict the impression of his sensible passing. Embiid inspired Hanlen to maintain learning the movie, as a result of Haliburton had sure points of his recreation the large man had by no means seen earlier than.

So in that recreation on Jan. 29, 2022, Haliburton did precisely what Hanlen challenged him to do. He tried 19 photographs, made 11 of them and completed with a then-career-high 38 factors.

He was traded to the Pacers 10 days later.

He has been working with Hanlen ever since, and the theme has by no means modified.

“The large quote that we at all times say is, ‘Generally being too unselfish is definitely being egocentric,'” Hanlen advised ESPN Thursday evening, as he waited for Haliburton by the Pacers household room in Oklahoma Metropolis. “When he is unselfish, it truly negatively impacts his teammates’ success and negatively impacts his crew’s success.

“The extra aggressive he’s, the extra his crew wins.”

CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN a fickle flame for Haliburton over time — laborious to image after his boisterous interviews and celebrations on the court docket this season. However just some months in the past, he was as little as Hanlen had ever seen him.

Being the one participant on the Olympic crew who did not get any enjoying time shook him. So did a lingering hamstring harm, which stored him from coaching all summer season. He got here into the season with out his common burst, bodily or emotionally. And it confirmed within the Pacers’ sluggish begin.

That is what made his feedback to Van Pelt after Thursday evening’s win so ironic. “We have been late to the occasion, too,” reads a complete lot otherwise figuring out simply how a lot Haliburton struggled to get his confidence and aggressiveness again earlier this yr.

Even the signature footwear he delivered to the rostrum with him have a double which means. When Haliburton was at his lowest this yr, he apprehensive he did not should have the glory of a signature shoe.

“He is at all times used negativity and doubt to gas him,” Hanlen mentioned. “However then he began shopping for into it and believing it. We needed to get him previous that.”

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ON WEDNESDAY, HALIBURTON texted Hanlen a publish from @studio7Inbox — an X account with 269 followers — that broke down the Pacers wins per shot makes an attempt by Haliburton.

Break down of Pacers wins per shot makes an attempt by @TyHaliburton22 from the beginning of the szn through the playoffs:
9 or fewer: 5-6
10 or extra: 47-21
14 or extra: 30-13
15 or extra: 29-10
16 or extra: 20-5
17 or extra: 15-2
20 or extra: 4-0@PUMAHoops #YesCers

— Studio7 (@Studio7Inbox) June 4, 2025

Hanlen had no thought how Haliburton discovered that publish, however he was glad that was what Haliburton was considering on the eve of his first Finals look.

“We got here up with a slogan, which is the orange factor,” Hanlen mentioned. “Which simply means have a look at the orange factor. Have a look at the rim as a lot as you probably can.

“You would not inform some gamers to be overly aggressive since you suppose then they will begin looking for dangerous photographs. However for Ty, we belief that if he will get downhill and places himself in the suitable place, he’ll make the suitable determination.”

The top results of all that is that whereas it seems Haliburton is having a celebrity flip in these playoffs, it is one which started three years in the past — and one that also wants tending.

After Haliburton shot solely seven instances within the Pacers’ Recreation 5 loss to the Knicks, Hanlen flew to Indianapolis to assist him put together for Recreation 6. They watched movie, and when Haliburton went to mattress, Hanlen gathered any orange factor he may discover in the home and left them outdoors his door.

He discovered a bag of Goldfish, a large field of Reese’s Puffs cereal, a Quantity 3-sized basketball, a large carrot, an orange bag of Guittard darkish chocolate and Sort peanut butter clusters.

Haliburton awoke and needed to step over all of the “orange issues” simply to depart his room.

“That is all he talks about,” Haliburton joked. “24/7, all day every single day. It by no means stops with that man.”

Clearly the message is getting by. As a result of as Haliburton walked out of Paycom Middle Thursday evening, he requested what number of shot makes an attempt he took in Recreation 1.

13.

“Rattling,” he mentioned. “[Hanlen’s] not going to be pleased. I do know I used to be horrible. I made the shot and every thing, however there’s a number of room for enchancment. I could be higher.”