How Tyrese Haliburton Transformed from NBA Underdog to Unstoppable Force Overnight

Tyrese Haliburton’s rise this season is nothing short of a jaw-dropper. Just months ago, the Indiana Pacers’ dazzling point guard was the butt of jokes after his limited minutes at the Olympics—relegated mostly to bench duty while flashing smiles and high fives but barely hitting the stats sheet. Yet here we are, watching a player who once quietly accepted his role as an underdog now step onto the biggest stage and command attention with ice-cold, clutch plays that have Indiana within striking distance of their first NBA championship. This transformation—marked by last-second shots, buzzer-beaters, and gutsy decisions—has flipped the narrative on its head, forcing even the harshest critics to rethink what greatness looks like when it’s wrapped in a grin and unshakable confidence. Haliburton’s journey from Olympic benchwarmer to postseason hero is a story of grit, self-awareness, and maybe a little bit of basketball magic that nobody saw coming until it was too late. LEARN MORE

The hits didn’t stop there. As the playoffs began in April, The Athletic asked NBA players who they considered the league’s most overrated player. With 158 anonymous replies (or more than a quarter of the locker room population), Haliburton won handily – with 14.4% of the vote – over Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert and Atlanta pest Trae Young. But Haliburton, who further confessed to learning a lot from how USA teammates Jayson Tatum (who also went overlooked in the Olympic rotation) and Joel Embiid handled criticism on their respective NBA squads, didn’t let the disrespect get him down this time. “I must be doing something right,” Haliburton said in response to the poll. “My focus is on this locker room and securing victories. I know who I am. I’m confident in myself and not concerned with what others think.”This year, however, Haliburton has proved that he’s no joke. His late-game heroics are the main reason why the Indiana Pacers are just two wins from the NBA title. Time and again during these playoffs Haliburton has snatched the Pacers back from what had looked like certain defeat – and with every M Night Shyamalan twist he orchestrates on court, he shows that no moment is ever too big for him.Instead of hitting out at online fans who kept tabs on Indiana Pacers star’s smiles, high fives and other displays of team spirit to make up for his lack of on-court statistics, Haliburton seized on the chance to dunk on himself. After the US pipped France in the final, Haliburton posted a selfie with his gold medal. “When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A,” he wrote.

Instead of hitting out at online fans who kept tabs on Indiana Pacers star’s smiles, high fives and other displays of team spirit to make up for his lack of on-court statistics, Haliburton seized on the chance to dunk on himself. After the US pipped France in the final, Haliburton posted a selfie with his gold medal. “When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A,” he wrote.

Instead of hitting out at online fans who kept tabs on Indiana Pacers star’s smiles, high fives and other displays of team spirit to make up for his lack of on-court statistics, Haliburton seized on the chance to dunk on himself. After the US pipped France in the final, Haliburton posted a selfie with his gold medal. “When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A,” he wrote.

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