Hey Captain Klay Thompson at your service
Tyrese Haliburton is a vibe for Team USA
Now that the FIBA World Cup games have begun, it is still difficult to write anything but wonderful praises about Tyrese Haliburton’s play and effect with Team USA, ensuring that the “Summer of Tyrese” will continue for some time. The unbeaten United States of America takes against Greece at 8:40 a.m. ET on Monday.
After a shaky start, the U.S. squad stormed back to defeat New Zealand 99-72 on Saturday. Who do you think led the charge for that first-half comeback? That’s right, it’s Tyrese and his second-unit family. Austin Reeves and Paolo Banchero, who scored 21 and 12 points, respectively.While the starting lineup has struggled, especially in the minutes immediately following the opening tip, the bench players have consistently pulled the red, white, and blue back into victory. According to CC, New Zealand’s coaches were anticipating Haliburton’s entry and the influence he would have on the game by raising the tempo. This was most obvious in the toughest game of the exhibition tour, a match versus Germany.
Even though Anthony Edwards’s 34 points got all the attention, it was an 18-6 surge in the third quarter that pulled the game within striking distance for the Americans after the Germans had taken a 16-point advantage. Team USA’s 22-5 final score against Germany was capped by Reaves’s dunk in the last seconds, with Tyrese providing all the vibes for the occasion by following closely behind and jumping alongside Reaves. Hali played a key role in this victory.Reaves called the visual style of the moment captured on social media “elite,” and he wasn’t wrong.Given the starting unit’s troubles, Haliburton’s bench role is drawing more and more criticism. Could Hali get the first team functioning on a little different level? Sure. Edwards and Brandon Ingram, for example, are better off generating their own half-court scoring opportunities, so that’s a different blend of talent.
When Jalen Brunson was chosen the starting point guard and team captain for the next exhibition games, he received all the attention. Brunson is on the Knicks, thus any attempt by an NBA reporter to gush over him will be done purely for pageviews. But just as no one ever said anything bad about Haliburton, nobody should sаy anything bad about Brunson either. It’s been exciting to watch the narrative shift as a Pacers fan, as national NBA commentators start to acknowledge the value of Hali’s contributions to the team.
For Haliburton, the outcome of this offseason and the Team USA experience in particular could not have been better. His demeanor and impact as a great teammate mix with his elite ability to bring out the best in his teammates, making his role at the FIBA World Cup as significant as the contract extension itself.
In his early games with the national team, Haliburton’s high assist totals suggested that he was purely concerned with facilitating his team’s success. Although Hali’s natural tendency is to look about for an open teammate, his role has changed as he has sought out opportunities to score himself.
When he gets the ball rolling, though, his squad puts together scoring runs that are full of good energy as they attempt to push the pace and find success with teammates completing. What kind of baller wouldn’t be stoked to have Haliburton taking care of the rock for them? Not only are they winning, but they’re having a blast doing it!
Basketball, at its core, is a recreational activity. Amazingly, Haliburton can siphon out all that enjoyment for himself and his teammates.
As long as Haliburton keeps his health, the experience has been invaluable regardless of how the rest of Team USA does at the World Cup. Everything the Pacers appreciate about him has translated to a larger platform, and he has delivered.
Carlisle remarked of Tyrese Haliburton, “Tyrese Haliburton is our All-Star,” after Hali scored 43 points in a game against the Heat in December of last year. “In less than a year, he has fundamentally altered our franchise’s arc; he has altered the spirit and course of our franchise. The kind of fantastic young player he is is on full display tonight.
The majority of his games with Team USA this summer have gone similarly. After the season, Kevin Pritchard was so impressed with Haliburton that he brought up the possibility of a contract extension.
Pritchard said of him at the end-of-the-year news conference, “I’ve never been around a more complete, empathetic, understanding of what the real world is, loving, taking care of the small people, truly committed to community leader like him.” Never have I seen it before. Never before have I seen such a masterful connector as Tyrese. As usual. He’s on good terms with our ball boys and the president or CEO of a major corporation. Simply being in his presence makes others feel at ease.
In a word, yes. When it comes to making connections, Haliburton is unparalleled, and not just because of the pinpoint accuracy of his passes on the court. Like superior hand-eye coordination or inherent raw strength, he has been able to tap into and further develop a natural skill: the capacity to connect with a diverse set of people.
We pause to reflect on the reality that Haliburton is only halfway through his 23rd year on Earth. He possesses an amazing basketball IQ for someone whose NBA career has only taken him to Sacramento and Indianapolis. Given his performance with Team USA and other top young players in the league, it’s great news that he’s signed on to be the Pacers’ face for several more years.
the atmosphere, the grin, and the play…The idea of playing with Tyrese is irresistible. It will be intriguing to see who is interested in playing with him in the coming years.