Slight of build and with an off-beat shooting form, Tyrese Haliburton doesn’t quite fit the mold of a typical NBA star. The fact that he plays in a small market like Indianapolis doesn’t help.
Drafted 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2020 the young man soon made a rapid rise in the league, averaging 13 points and 5.3 assists as a rookie. Soon after he was traded to the Indiana Pacers where in his first full season, he would average 20.7 points, 10.4 assists while earning his first All-star nod.
In the 2023-24 season he averaged 20.1 points where his team went all the way to the NBA Finals but were swept by the Boston Celtics
Maybe that’s why in the fast-paced, opinion-heavy world of the NBA where people are fond of labels, the overrated tag began.
OVERRATED. Much has been made about that list, but yes, Tyrese made it all the way to the top in a survey purportedly made involving NBA players themselves. While nobody now takes accountability especially that the Pacers are enjoying a 2-0 lead over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, yes Tyrese was dubbed the most overrated player in the NBA.
But Haliburton, with his infectious energy, razor-sharp vision and relentless work ethic, has turned that label into nothing more than background noise. Much more so, with the way he’s been playing in the playoffs which has pretty much turned into the Tyrese Haliburton show.
What sets Haliburton apart isn’t just his stats — it’s his demeanor. After his team eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks where his father got into an altercation with Giannis, he stayed above the fray, flashing his signature smile and didnt mind telling the whole world his father was wrong.
Win or lose in this series, that overrated label is fading fast. In fact, the more the critics belittle him, the opposite thing is transpiring. He is more of the underdog with a lot of people having little faith in him. Yet, he’s not chasing validation, he’s chasing a legacy. And I will continue to root for him over and above all the noise.
TADURAN. By the time you read this, we will have learned if Pedro Taduran was succesful in defending his IBF minimweight title against Ginjiro Shigeoka of Japan. This is a rematch of their first encounter wherein Taduran stopped Shigeoka in the ninth round during a vicious battle.
I expect Taduan to win easily in this one but via the decision route.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my lovely niece, Yanna Isabelli Chanco Quijano, who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!