FIBA Basketball

    Haliburton lets his play do the talking

    5 min to read
    Haliburton was a star performer for USA at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

    Voted the most overrated player in the NBA in an anonymous player poll conducted by a popular sports news website, Tyrese Haliburton is proving he's a superstar in the NBA postseason.

    CLEVELAND (USA) - Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers was recently voted the NBA's most overrated player in an anonymous poll of his peers conducted by The Athletic.

    I'm at peace with my game, understanding that I'm trusted in these moments.

    Tyrese Haliburton

    That poll hasn't done any favors for the Milwaukee Bucks or the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs because the USA point guard has made a mockery of the vote with his heroics against both teams.

    Haliburton led the Pacers past Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference first round, a performance that included a go-ahead drive just 1.3 seconds from the end for a 119-118 Game 5 win to clinch the first round series.

    On Tuesday, Haliburton, with Cleveland fans taunting him by shouting "overrated", nailed a step-back 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining for a 120-119 overtime victory.

    That win gave the Pacers a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

    Asked in the post-game press conference about the finish to the game, Haliburton smiled and answered: "I'm at peace with my game, understanding that I'm trusted in these moments.

    "I have all the confidence in the world to make these shots. My teammates and this coaching staff give me that confidence."

    Haliburton has been a star for USA Basketball at FIBA events, dating back to his time at the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, when the Americans won the title in Greece.

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    He was a standout performer for the USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila, playing a big part in their run to the Semi-Finals.

    He averaged 8.6 points and 5.6 assists per game in the tournament. Haliburton buried 17 of 36 (47.2 percent) of his shots from 3-point range.

    The USA guard didn't receive as many minutes at the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 yet still celebrated a gold medal win.

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