Is Tyrese Haliburton the Most Underrated Player in the NBA?

It wasn’t supposed to happen this season. This was the time of year when fans of Hoosier State basketball would be immersed in Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever while also paying attention to the Indianapolis 500.

However, no one told the Indiana Pacers. As of this writing, there are still NBA games to be played in Indianapolis, with the Pacers set to begin their Eastern Conference finals series at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks.

Fourth-seeded in the East, Indiana dusted both the Milwaukee Bucks and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games to reach the NBA’s version of the Final Four. 

They’ve been fearless, winning on the road as regularly as inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, hardly resembling the one swept by the Boston Celtics in the conference finals last season.

Look no further than the play of point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was ‘underrated’ but is now unstoppable. Haliburton is averaging 17.5 points per game (that’s second to Pascal Siakam) and a league-leading 9.5 assists during the postseason. Throw in 5½ rebounds per game.

In closing out the Cavs, he had 31 points (10-of-15 field goals), six rebounds, and eight assists.   

The twenty-five-year-old Halburton used to be one of the best-kept secrets in NBA news.

The secret’s out. 

Originally the 12th overall selection by the Sacramento Kings in 2020, he was shipped to Indiana as part of the multi-player deal in February 2022. Since then, it’s been three consecutive 20-plus points per game seasons, a pair of All-Star berths (though not this season), and an average of nearly 11 assists/game.

That while once labeled as a ‘fake, wannabe All-Star’ by Knicks’ analyst Wally Szczerbiak (who, in the interest of full disclosure, later apologized).  

Here’s a bit of a primer on ‘underrated’ Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers and the NBA playoffs…

What Was Tyrese Halibuton’s GPA?

Tyrese Haliburton wears ‘0,’ but not in class. With a high-school grade point average (GPA) of 3.7, he also excelled in the classroom during his two seasons at Iowa State. That doesn’t appear in Tyrese Haliburton’s stats, but it’s obvious he possesses more than court sense. 

What Does Tyrese Haliburton’s Dad Do for a Living?

Much was made after John Haliburton’s on-court confrontation with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo after a game-winning shot by his son. The elder Haliburton, who is a referee and former coach at the college level, is no longer welcome at Pacer home NBA games (as of now). 

Who is Favored to Win the NBA Title? 

It’s no surprise the Oklahoma City Thunder remain a strong favorite to win the NBA Finals and their first title since life as the Seattle SuperSonics. It’s OKC at 5-17 (-240) to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, with the New York Knicks at 5-1 (+500), Indiana Pacers at 29-4 (+725), and Minnesota Timberwolves at 17-2 (+850). Odds are fluid throughout the playoffs. 

What Is Tyrese Haliburton’s Salary?

$42,176,400 was the listed Tyrese Haliburton salary this past season.

Does BetUS Offer Constant Updates on NBA Betting Lines?

Indeed. There are individual NBA scores, game and series odds available, along with additional props around individual games and the length of both conference finals. There is a board with the biggest individual postseason award, the MVP of the Finals (honoring Bill Russell. 

Any Final Thoughts?

Anyone who pays even marginal attention to pro basketball is acutely aware of the NBA’s conference finals. There are compelling games and exciting opportunities to make money. Continuing to invoke the phrase ‘do your homework’ because it’s essential if you’re going to gain any possible advantage against the NBA odds.