Popularity in the NBA is driven by star power and championships, both of which the Indiana Pacers lack. But this is something Tyrese Haliburton is determined to change. His commitment to making this happen was further solidified after he led his team to the In-Season Tournament Finals against the storied Los Angeles Lakers. While they failed to clinch a victory, Hali was hopeful that fellow NBA players watching the game would see in him a burgeoning star around whom a championship team could be built, much like what’s happened with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

He echoed similar sentiments when he appeared on JJ Redick’s podcast, The Old Man and the Three. As currently constructed, Indiana isn’t a team that would attract star players to join them. But Hali pointed to the change Giannis has brought to Milwaukee.

“I grew up in Wisconsin and the Bucks were never cool like nobody cared about the Bucks… And then Giannis came, and now they have one of the biggest players in the NBA, and now players want to go play with them and you know, dudes are taking pay cuts to play for the Bucks because they win championships,” said the 2x NBA All-Star.

Much like the Pacers, until a few years ago, the Bucks too were the underdogs. However, with Antetokoumpo at the helm, they were able to overcome a 50-year championship drought and bring home their second title in franchise history in 2021. This inspired players to join them, leading to the blockbuster Damian Lillard’s trade to Milwaukee. This is the positive change Hali hopes to emulate.

He added, “People are like, ‘Well, you’ll never be able to get people to want to come play with you.’ But for me, it was always like, if I’m good enough, people will come play.”

Can the Indiana Pacers win a chip this season?

One of the biggest knocks on the Pacers is that they haven’t won any championships. However, with the keys to their offense safe with Hali, they now have the second-best offense in the league with a 120.5 offensive efficiency. They further bolstered their offense by acquiring Pascal Siakam via a blockbuster mid-season trade. But it is their defense that has been a cause for concern for them.

Is Tyrese Haliburton a Young Stephen Curry?

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They currently have the fifth-worst defense in the league with a rating of 119.2, though they still outscore their opponents by 1.3 points per 100 possessions. Therefore, their defense is what they need to improve to lead a serious playoff charge. They occupy the sixth seed right now, which guarantees the automatic playoff spot, but they are only half a game clear of dropping to the eighth spot, with both the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic nipping at their heels.

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