Tyrese Haliburton is a professional basketball player currently with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA. Born on February 29, 2000, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he played high school basketball at Oshkosh North High School, where he was named the 2018 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year. He then played two seasons at Iowa State University, earning several honors including All-Big 12 Second Team and academic awards, and finishing his college career with notable stats in assists and steals[3][5]. Haliburton was selected 12th overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. As a rookie, he came off the bench supporting star guard De’Aaron Fox and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting behind LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. In his second year, he became a starter but was traded in February 2022 to the Indiana Pacers in a deal that included All-Star Domantas Sabonis moving to Sacramento[1][4]. With the Pacers, Haliburton has risen to prominence, becoming a key leader and playmaker. He is noted for his flashy passing, scoring ability, and high basketball IQ. Under his influence, the Pacers returned to playoff relevance, making a deep run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 and then reaching the NBA Finals in 2025, the franchise’s second-ever appearance. During the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury in Game 7, which significantly impacted the series outcome[1][2]. Haliburton’s playoff performances have been exceptional, including a historic Game 4 in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, four steals, and zero turnovers, a stat line unmatched in NBA history. He is considered one of the top young talents and a strong candidate for future All-NBA honors[2][4].
#indiana pacers #oklahoma city thunder #nba finals #tyrese haliburton #rookie
Read about the Indiana Pacers' thrilling comeback victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, led by star rookie Tyrese Haliburton.