We are right in the moment of experiencing the rise of Tyrese Haliburton. At the helm for the Indiana Pacers, he has single-handedly revolutionized the side. Achieving In-Season Finals berth, Hali has stapled himself as a superstar in the making. The 6’5″ point guard is now revered for his beyond-the-charts efficient playmaking. He might introduce a completely new demand in the market, one dating back to the shades of a traditional PG. A prototype with immaculate passing skills but also offensively potent. Haliburton’s game is pure. He operates off his cerebral instinct which, the majority of the time is the right decision.

If we look at in from a wider, more futuristic lens, the 2020 12th overall pick could revolutionize the game with his beats. The only man comparable in terms of impact very well might be Stephen Curry. The two have some staunch similarities. Both point guards weren’t the highest-rated prospects of their class, but one campaign raised their stock. Curry did it in the NCAA tournament for Davidsons, Hali earned his stripes when he appeared for USA at the U-19 tournament in Greece.

This season, they stand atop the pyramid of point guards in the NBA. Their games might differ, but something still connects them. Maybe it’s the deep-rooted desire to overcome doubt. They both have a chip on their shoulder, and a hunter’s mindset to chase their peaks relentlessly.

Haliburton and Stephen Curry were both underrated

The NBA world knows the story of a scrawny kid from Davidson who forever changed the basketball landscape. Stephen Curry was never looked on as a high-ranked prospect. In fact, experts couldn’t see a trace of NBA potential mainly due to his lacking size. No college wanted him, but Davidson and Bok McKillop put their faiths in his way of playing the game.

Soon he turned the tides. He shattered the college’s scoring record and rose to the draft’s first round. With the eighth pick, the Golden State Warriors selected their kingpin. But still, the cloud of failure loomed over him.

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“Do not rely on him t run your team” his scouting report said.

A few rough seasons and unwavering confidence later, Curry became the biggest name in basketball. History books are rewritten by his name. Not only did he run the organization, Curry beautified its story.

If you look at Haliburton’s journey, it came from the same roots. Despite having a tall frame, long arms and near-perfect playmaking abilities, experts had their reservations. His weird, unorthodox jump shot became the subject of debate even though he had shot over 40% from three in college. Hali got his chance as the 12th pick and instantly repaid the Sacramento Kings with his easing style.

Surprisingly, they shipped him to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis. But ultimately, it translated into a mutually beneficial trade. Hali had his own offense with complete command. In his first full season, Hali took flight as an All-Star. His flawless passes stood out as he orchestrated a new-age offense for the Pacers.

Now, we are seeing the meteoric potential Haliburton flaunts. As the ball handler, he has led the Pacers to the best offense, and slowly but surely, a fearless unit.

Tyrese Haliburton is transforming the Pacers

2018 was the last time there was any excitement in Indiana basketball. Victor Oladipo and crew LeBron James’ Cavaliers to seven games, eventually losing the thrilling series. Since then, it’s been silence. The roars had died down. Until Hali came.

He engineered the offense around his exceptional playmaking skills. Just imagine having a general who rarely makes a mistake. That’s how safe Haliburton is with the ball. He recently became the only player to have 25+ points and 15+ dimes without any turnover on multiple occasions. It’s almost absurd how ahead he is of the defense when finding an open man.

The impact is palpable with his teammates. Season after season, Myles Turner was in trade talks. He himself once said he was looking for newer pastures. But when he got Haliburton as his point guard, now they are among the elite pick and role combinations in the league. The tandem has linked up 75 times so far, the fifth most in the NBA. Amongst the top five, they average the most points per possession at 1.48.

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It’s not just Turner though. Everyone around has benefitted from Haliburton. He has become the offensive engine who makes everyone around him look better. There hasn’t been a player who can attack and share the ball quite like Hali in a long time. But do comparisons with Curry make sense?

Bound for stardom, but not the next Curry

Stephen Curry is a revolutionary. He single-handedly started a trend that is ever-growing. It is because of him that basketball became positionsless. There is no dedicated role for anyone position. From 1 to 5, everyone can shoot the ball. A sweet-looking jumper can alone carve out a decent career in the NBA today.

Haliburton is a product of the revolution. Someone who has mastered his own unique jump shot. It’s weird, it’s different, but he has made it his own. However, that’s not the part that he is known for or will be known for. The essence of his game is his playmaking. His ability to read through plays and barely make mistakes is what makes the Pacers offense so successful.

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So even if he weren’t to score a bunch of points but keep every single man engaged, the Pacers will prevail. In Curry’s case, it’s him who is the focal point of scoring. His responsibility is to shoot and then shoot more. Their stories might collide. Both underrated, overlooked have now risen to the peak. But Hali isn’t the next or a young Stephen Curry, he is himself.