The Indiana Pacers acquired Tyrese Haliburton on February 1, 2022. Racking up big numbers everywhere he went, Haliburton was an NBA star in the making. A star that has joined the ranks of NBA legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
The Heat vs Pacers game concluded a historic night for the young guard. Scoring a double-double with 44 points and 10 assists, the Milwaukee native has set the stage for greater things to come.
Tyrese Haliburton joins the ranks of NBA legends with insane stats
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The Pacers never expected the 23-year-old to become the one who would set the pace for their team. But then again, when the front office had set sights on the skinny 6’5 Oshkosh three-star recruit, they hoped he would bring some change to the Indiana Pacers. And that’s exactly what Haliburton did. So much so that he’s now part of a historic duo in the NBA.
Historic November for Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, per ESPN Stats and Info/@StatsWilliams
•28.6 PPG
•11.7 APG
•53% FG
•47% 3-pt FG
Only Michael Jordan (March 1989) and LeBron James (February 2017 and 2018) ever averaged 25 and 10 with 50 and 40 percent shooting in month.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 1, 2023
Woj was up early tweeting about the life-altering month for Tyrese Haliburton. With good reason, too. Haliburton has now joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James to be the third player to ever average “25 and 10 with 50 and 40 percent shooting in month.”
Haliburton’s November stats are what got him in league with legendary basketball superstars. 28.6 points and 11.7 assists per game with 53% field goal and 47% three-point field goal, as per ESPN stats. But he isn’t the only one who is reaping the benefits of his hard work.
The Pacers rewrite their culture with Haliburton
There was an immediate change in the pace of the Pacers the moment Tyrese walked in through the doors. His bright smile and energetic ways soon won over the team. Soon, everyone was moving at the speed Tyrese set.
Read More: Is Tyrese Haliburton the Favorite to Win NBA In-Season Tournament MVP?
A factor that made the Indianapolis team want to follow Tyrese was his genuine desire to create opportunities for his teammates. He wasn’t like many players who had a hard time letting go of the ball. When he, along with Buddy Hield, was traded to Indiana, the two had already created an on-court chemistry in Sacramento.
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The pair took this to Indiana, which laid the groundwork for their offense to take flight. The rest of the team followed their lead. Talking about Haliburton’s virtue of passing the ball early, Coach Carlisle said, “That’s something that Tyrese realizes and a lot of guys don’t. They like having the ball and like controlling things. But he sees the connection with lightning-fast ball movement, teammate engagement, and the positive impact of getting the ball back live.”
The offensive firepower was getting better day after day, and what was a slow-moving veteran circle was off at full speed with Hal at the helm. Players started looking at Indiana in a different light. The Railroad City was a destination that star-powered talents considered moving to.
The Indiana Pacers are just getting started. With Tyrese Haliburton signing a max contract, the management is looking to rewrite their entire being. What Ty has brought to the team is not just player value. There is a human element to it. A culture that is slowly developing into what the Pacers’ “approach as a franchise is going forward”.
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Can Haliburton truly become the turnkey solution for a flourishing Pacers?
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