The tough win over South Sudan reminded the United States that they can be beaten, even if they send all their stars to FIBA competitions. After finishing just off the podium at the last World Cup, Tyrese Haliburton However, he does not foresee another failure within the American team.
“Last year, we spent a month or forty days together, and we came back with nothing.” he recalls. “I came back with great experiences, good friends but at the end of the day, we are here for a medal.”
So there is no question of the Pacers leader leaving Paris without a trinket, golden of course…
“Last year we didn't do what we wanted to do and it's frustrating.” he continues about this fourth place in the World Cup. “Every time you represent Team USA, the expectation is to win. And we didn’t do that. I think that carried me through this year, where I had my best season in the NBA. Coming back to Team USA this year, I know there’s only one expectation, and that’s to win.”
The only “pure leader” in the squad?
For him, it is still an opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the NBA on a daily basis.
“Half of our team could probably retire today and still be in the Hall of Fame.”he explains. “Just being around those guys and learning from them is really going to help me. Just seeing guys like LeBron and Steph lead and communicate and do all those things that make them winners in this league is going to be big for me, to help me move forward.”
However, Tyrese Haliburton must not just observe and learn. He must also be productive, which he is not really in this preparation: 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on average in 15 minutes at 30% shooting success including 29% behind the 3-point line…
Yesterday again, against South Sudan, he did not bring much, and therefore played very little in the end.
“With Tyrese, we have a real leader” Steve Kerr recalls. “I would say most of our guys are combo players. Steph (Curry), Jrue (Holiday) or LeBron (James), who is a creative wing. Tyrese is a floor general, a playmaker in the traditional sense.”
| Tyrese Haliburton | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 58 | 30 | 47.2 | 40.9 | 85.7 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.0 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 77 | 35 | 47.3 | 41.4 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 8.2 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 15.3 |
| 2021-22 * | BAG | 51 | 34 | 45.7 | 41.3 | 83.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 14.3 |
| 2021-22 * | IND | 26 | 36 | 50.2 | 41.6 | 84.9 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 17.5 |
| 2022-23 | IND | 56 | 34 | 49.0 | 40.0 | 87.1 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 10.5 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 20.7 |
| 2023-24 | IND | 69 | 32 | 47.7 | 36.4 | 85.5 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 10.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| Total | 260 | 33 | 47.8 | 39.3 | 85.6 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 8.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 17.2 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
