Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese John Haliburton, born February 29, 2000, is an accomplished professional basketball player based in America. Currently, he dedicates his sporting prowess to the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association. Prior to his current team, he was a regular point guard for the Iowa State Cyclones. Haliburton is best known for his draft selection, where he was chosen as the 12th pick during the 2020 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. As of 2022, he plays for the Indiana Pacers, following a transaction that saw Domantas Sabonis going to the Kings.

Haliburton was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and began his journey in the sporting world at an early age. He showed promise in basketball during his high school years, where he was a unanimous three-star recruit from Oshkosh North High School. During his senior season, he led the team to a state championship, thereby setting the tone for what would be a notable career in the sport.

At Iowa State, he set the program’s single-game assists record in his freshman year, a sign of things to come. His sophomore season marked a breakthrough for his career, and he was named to the second team All-Big 12 Conference, in spite of a wrist injury that ended his season. He also gained recognition as a leading player during the 2019 FIBA Under–19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, where he guided the United States to a gold medal and earned all–tournament team honors. In 2021, Haliburton continued to shine when he was selected to the USA Men’s Select Team. At the time, he worked closely with the US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team at their training camp in Las Vegas. Later, the United States dominated the Tokyo Olympics, resulting in a 16-time champion title.

Even in high school, Haliburton’s talent could not be overlooked. While playing at Oshkosh North High School, he was a sophomore addition to the All-Fox Valley Association (FVA) second team and defensive team. His junior season stats of 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game, won him the FVA Player of the Year and Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division I All-State accolades. His outstanding performance was evident when he led Oshkosh North to an impressive 26–1 record in his senior year. Haliburton stood out as he scored a career-high of 42 points in a game against Kaukauna High School and later went on to score 31 points en route to leading his program to their first state title.

Haliburton made his college debut for Iowa State in 2018. Despite suffering a wrist injury that ended his sophomore season prematurely, he announced his decision to enter the 2020 NBA draft and leave behind his remaining eligibility to play college basketball.

In the 2020 NBA draft, his next chapter began when the Sacramento Kings chose him as their 12th pick. He officially became a Kings player later that November after signing a contract with them. He made his NBA debut in a match versus the Denver Nuggets. Here, he impressed with 12 points, four assists, two rebounds, and a block from the bench. However, his first season with the Kings was cut short as he suffered a left knee injury against the Dallas Mavericks. Regardless, he did finish third in the Rookie of the Year voting and landed a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

In 2022, in a significant exchange involving multiple players and teams, Haliburton found himself donning the jersey of the Indiana Pacers. He didn’t disappoint even after switching teams, putting up impressive stats during his debut with the Pacers against the Cleveland Cavaliers. His star continued to shine as he represented the Pacers in the NBA’s 2022 Rising Stars Challenge.

During the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Haliburton was instrumental in the United States securing a fourth-place finish, thereby qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Haliburton’s prowess extends past the courts as he was awarded a max contract extension with the Pacers, earning up to $260 million over five years in 2023. His numerous accolades and unwavering performances have been crucial in shaping his career. They serve to remind one and all of his extraordinary talent, dedication, and leadership in the world of basketball.