In just four years, Tyrese Haliburton has turned into one of the best guards in the NBA. While his shooting style might be a bit unorthodox and awkward-looking, there is no denying the fact that it produces results. Although everyone knows it by now, that was not the case when Hali was just a 14-year-old high school freshman and he was overlooked by his first AAU team, the Playground Warriors, while his teammate since middle school Tyler Herro made the cut.

The Pacers superstar opened up about the time he found out from his parents that the Playground Warriors believed he had no future with the program anymore. “They never said that I was cut, but my parents told me that it was essentially like, ‘He can come if he wants to,’ So, like—that, I think, was worse.” Obviously, his getting snubbed while the future Miami Heat guard and his pal Tyler Herro was still on the team hurt him. But what affected him even more and has kept him motivated, even to this day, is the fact that the AAU team passed the news via his parents instead of telling him directly. Unfortunately, Haliburton’s misery was not over.

Soon after the snub, the young guard joined a Milwaukee-based team, Wisconsin United. “Pissed at the world,” after the Warriors’ decision, Haliburton headed for his first practice session with his new team. By now, he had begun losing faith in his jump shot and shooting form. His confidence hit a new low when the Wisconsin coach, Bryan Johnikin, made his 3-year-old grandson defend his shot during practice, and shockingly enough, the preschooler ended up swatting Haliburton’s low waist jumper. “I left in tears because I was so embarrassed of what was going on,” Tyrese told GQ Sports, reliving the haunting memory in his head.

Tyrese Haliburton’s journey from Snubbed to All-Star

For most kids, these two incidents would have been enough to break their courage. But Tyrese was no ordinary kid. Returning again and again despite the initial embarrassment, he gradually regained his confidence playing under Johnikin’s leadership, eventually winning a state title, and earning Gatorade’s State Player of the Year Award. As fate would have it, he would eventually get an apology from his first AAU team’s coach during Tyler Herro’s high school graduation party.

The coach was none other than Tyler’s dad, Chris Herro, who Tyrese revealed “apologized for everything” at that party.

While his coach felt apologetic, Tyrese was actually thankful for his contribution to the superstar’s success. “I love Chris Herro, I love the Herro family, and I mean, honestly, I should be thanking him.” Sure enough, the lesson he learned as a teenager helped Haliburton excel in the NBA. Although many doubted his unconventional jumper, it was a Steve Kerr phone call that helped his first franchise trust his shot.

“When I got drafted, Luke didn’t really know anything about me, and one of the stories he told me recently was that Coach Kerr had called him, because I worked out for the Warriors and coach Kerr called him and was like ‘We love that kid, don’t ever touch his jumper.’” Tyrese revealed on Paul George’s podcast last year.

Despite a little hesitation, Walton obliged and let Haliburton do his thing. And boy! That has paid out for the point guard as the young teen who was once believed to have no future has become a 2x All-Star and is preparing to represent Team USA in his first Olympics this week.

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.