NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Indiana Pacers have a star on their hands with Tyrese Haliburton. Is he the best PG in the NBA today? Yes, and here’s why.
The PG position is not what it used to be. For this generation of players and fans, it’s a PG pulling up from half-court or scoring at will. Gone are the days of the PG being the QB of a team. Haliburton is a throwback player. He can score like Isiah Thomas and pass like John Stockton. So why is he not regarded as the best in the league?
There is a player who plays for the Golden State Warriors named Stephen Curry. Curry is one of the NBA greats but not at being a PG. It’s like labeling Allen Iverson a PG. They may play the position, but neither is a true facilitator.
If you watch the Warriors, it’s Draymond Green who makes the Warriors offense go. But for the Indiana Pacers, those duties fall on Haliburton’s shoulders game in and game out. They go where he leads them.
The Indiana Pacers are a middle-of-the-pack team and maybe that’s why he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. However, since being traded to the Pacers from the Sacramento Kings, Halliburton has transformed his image and his play. Playing behind Fox, no one saw this outburst coming. In his time with the Sacramento Kings, Haliburton averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. The potential was always there. He just needed the outlet.
Are The Indiana Pacers Contenders This Season
But since the trade, those numbers have leapfrogged to All-Star calibers averages of 20.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 10.5 assists. And then to add more to his repertoire, Haliburt has become a threat from deep. While not Curry lethal, Halliburton is shooting .447 percent from beyond and has made the Finals at the 3-point Contest at the 2023 NBA All-Star Competition.
Now, all he has to do is lead the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs and the rest of the accolades will start rolling in. Those same people turning their noses up at his stats will begin to admit they’ve been snubbing him. This season, he has upped his averages to 26.9 points and 11.9 assists
What has served him well this year has been the Pacers’ play during the In-Season Tournament where they have gone undefeated and will meet the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. During this run, Haliburton has been phenomenal. His game is now being seen on a national level. He’s being recognized for everything he’s been doing without the looks.
But it brings us back to the original question. Is Tyrese Haliburton the best PG in the NBA? I’ll stick to my original answer. How many teams have a player at the lead position who does what he can do on both ends of the court? How many of the lead guards are also their team’s No. 1 option?
For all the heat that James Harden has taken throughout his career, he and Russell Westbrook are true point guards. Chris Paul was once an elite PG but his scoring is not what it used to be. How many true PGs are left in the NBA? Luka Doncic, Jrue Holiday, Harden, Westbrook, LeMelo Ball, and Trae Young? There might be a few more sprinkled around but can anyone honestly say that Haliburton should not be mentioned in this group?
The PG position has become a bit confusing lately. Although a player is listed at that position, that does not qualify him as a true PG. Marcus Smart was the starting PG for the Boston Celtics but he never displayed PG qualities. Jalen Brunson is the PG for the New York Knicks but that offense tends to flow through Julius Randle more.
The newer generation, will never quite understand what it’s like to QB a team. Stockton, Thomas, Johnson, Mark Jackson, Gary Payton, Mike Bibby, those guys were leaders. They brought the ball up, looked for their teammates, and if the ball swung back to them, they took a shot. For those guys, it was about setting up your team, this generation is looking for their shot, if not there, then look to get others involved. Tyrese Haliburton is a throwback and that makes him the best PG in the NBA. If not the best, can you name someone better today?
