Tyrese Haliburton’s unselfish game has always been his calling card. But heading into Game 3 of the NBA Finals with the series tied 1-1, the Pacers’ star is being asked to lean into something he’s never fully embraced, that is… taking over as a scorer. And Grant Hill made sure everyone, especially Charles Barkley, understood what that means.

Haliburton is averaging just 15.5 points through the first two games against Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, the Thunder are starting to wall off passing lanes, press up on Indiana’s shooters, and basically dare Haliburton to beat them himself. So far, he hasn’t taken that bait (we all saw it in Game 2). But can he afford not to?

Grant Hill laid it out with a wink and a jab, delivering both a sharp analysis and a vintage Chuck diss on national TV. “He’s really a ball mover… He doesn’t want [to score first]. It’s a little bit like Chuck wants to be a good golfer, but he’s not.” Man, that was TNT-style mischief. And the best part? Chuck was sitting right there when Hill said it.

Now, Hill wasn’t exactly wrong. Haliburton’s pass-first style helped get Indiana to this stage. But Hill is hinting at what might need to change. He’s the pulse of their offense, the guy who keeps everyone involved and the ball zipping. But in the Finals? That version of Hali might not be enough. The Thunder have started clamping down, daring him to get selfish. And selfish might be the smartest play on the board right now.

If you ever needed proof that the Pacers thrive when Tyrese Haliburton is aggressive, just look at the numbers. Indiana is 7–1 when he scores 20 or more, but only 5–4 when he puts up fewer than 18. The shift in mindset shows in his stat line too—when he’s hunting for his own shot, his assists still stay strong at 11.6 per game. But when he dials back the scoring, his playmaking suffers, with assist averages dropping to 8.4. The message is clear: when Haliburton attacks, the Pacers win.

Across the playoffs, Haliburton is averaging 18.4 points on 48.1% shooting. Efficient? Absolutely. But explosive? That part’s still in question. He’s topped 30 points three times—two in that Knicks series and once against the Cavs, and crossed the 20-point mark only five times in 18 games total.

That’s solid, but not quite star-level fireworks. And Indiana’s system thrives on movement and spacing, but when OKC switches everything and bodies up on shooters, somebody has to break the scheme. That somebody might need to be Haliburton.

If not now, Tyrese, then when?

The thing is, he’s more than capable. He’s shown flashes—those occasional quarters where he goes complete takeover mode. Remember that save in Game 1 with 0.3 on the timer that got him the tag of “The Moment“? The guy can get hot. Question is: does he want to?

That’s what Grant Hill was poking at. Not just with data, but with delivery. The Chuck golf joke wasn’t random. It was a playful way of saying: just because you want to be great at something doesn’t mean you naturally are. Haliburton has always wanted to be a great point guard in the traditional sense. But right now, he might need to be a little selfish, a little untraditional… maybe even a little uncomfortable.

The Pacers don’t have another ball-dominant scorer who can consistently take over late. Pascal Siakam has been solid (hello, MVP), but not dominant. Andrew Nembhard has had moments, but he’s more of a steady hand. It has to be Haliburton. And with the Finals spotlight getting hotter, that spotlight is going to follow him whether he asks for it or not.

And no one’s asking Tyrese Haliburton to become a different player entirely. They just need him to trust his own offense the way he trusts everyone else’s. Call your own number. Pull up early. Shift the pressure. The Thunder will be ready for the pass, and it might be time to surprise them with the shot.

And who knows? If Haliburton leans into the moment, maybe by the time this series is over, Grant won’t be the only one dishing out the jokes on national TV. As for Chuck? Yeah… best keep the clubs in the trunk till July.