Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton invades LeBron James’ exclusive territory

Tyrese Haliburton has defied expectations since committing to Iowa State as a three-star recruit. After the Indiana Pacers’ historic 132-126 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers, his surprising days may be over.

Haliburton performed well at the Wells Fargo Center, making 11 of 18 shots and scoring 33 points, 15 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. The superstar’s performance has helped the Pacers get off to a 2-0 start in the NBA season championship (currently leading Group A), and he’s also inserted his name into the same conversation as one of the all-time greats.

The 23-year-old is the fifth player According to StatMuse, games with 10 or more assists and no turnovers are in double digits. He joins LeBron James, Chris Paul, Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry. However, there is a key difference. All four are nearing the end of long careers, and Haliburton is 10 games into his fourth season.

Indiana is loaded with talent, but the All-Star point guard is critical to unlocking the team’s full potential. Since the 2023-24 season, he has averaged 23.8 points and 12.2 assists per game and is the main reason for the Pacers’ 7-4 start. The Sixers entered Tuesday’s showdown with the NBA’s best record but couldn’t slow down Tyrese Haliburton.

Many teams may find themselves in the same predicament for an extended period of time. The in-season tournament provides him with the perfect platform to fully prove his status as one of the league’s elite defenders. We all underestimated Haliburton at our own peril.