Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton knows discussions about his play devolve into box score stats. He wants more people to look beyond the stats because the NBA Finals are more than just numbers.
Tyrese Haliburton has always seen basketball as a sport focused on winning. It is a bonus to have good box score numbers, as the win is always the focus. He has seen this in the discourse about the NBA Finals, a series for elite basketball.
Basketball should transcend the numbers, especially with all the magical moments. Game 1 of the Finals is a good example, as Haliburton did not have the best box score numbers. However, he stepped up for the Indiana Pacers and made the biggest play with his game-winner.
Haliburton knows the box score limits how people watch basketball at times. It is helpful, of course, but that should not be the only way people look at the sport. That is not the right way to watch a series like the Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since Haliburton interacts with people on social media, he sees the narratives about his game. Some people perceive him as a passive player because of his pass-first style. That should not be the narrative about his game, because Haliburton is a terrifying offensive player for any defender.
Haliburton’s play goes beyond the numbers due to his leadership and how he calls the shots on the floor. Even when he does not have the ball, he makes plays for his teammates. That can come through his instructions or off-ball screens.
The Pacers guard is one of the NBA’s floor generals, and that is evident when watching the game. Unfortunately, some people only look at the box score and do not see what Haliburton is doing out there. It is an unhealthy perspective of the game and the players’ hard work, something Bam Adebayo called out before.
“It’s unorthodox. A word that can be easily used. My jumper, the way it looks, it’s always been criticized coming into the NBA. I think that was a big part of it, and I think I have an effect on the game that isn’t necessarily the gaudy box score numbers,” Haliburton said ahead of Game 2 of the Finals.
“The way the game is digested by fans sometimes, I think it’s a lot of box score watchers. If my box score doesn’t look the way that it’s supposed to, I think that could be a part of it as well. I know that it’s probably not gonna stop any time soon.”
Despite the noise surrounding his game, Haliburton won’t be changing any time soon. That is what he did regarding the comments on his jump shot. He will keep pushing with what he knows and is comfortable with.
Haliburton is the type of person to roll with the punches and learn from them. This attitude helped him during the 2024 Olympics. It has worked out for him, considering the Pacers are 1-0 up in the NBA Finals.
Since he is also a vocal player, he wants more people to watch the game with a better understanding. He wants basketball fans to be smarter viewers and appreciate the players. Haliburton is good enough to have gaudy numbers, but other players are not lucky enough to have their work appreciated.
With the statements he made about box score watchers, people need to take them into account. Haliburton wants the sport to move forward, and that should be about watching games. These NBA Finals are a good starting point because everyone is working hard to win the trophy.
