Tyrese Haliburton: From Doubt to Dominance
There are countless NBA players who have beaten the odds to get to the league, proving coaches and scouts wrong at every turn. One such player is Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers star and current Olympian with Team USA. Haliburton’s journey to the NBA is a testament to his resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
As a high school freshman in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Haliburton faced a significant setback. The Playground Warriors, an AAU team he had played on since middle school, communicated through his parents that they no longer saw a future for him with the program. "They never said that I was cut, but my parents told me that it was essentially like, 'He can come if he wants to,'" Haliburton recalled. This moment, rather than breaking him, became a turning point in his young career.
The departure from Playground Warriors led Haliburton to join Wisconsin United, a team based in Milwaukee, which required a three-hour round trip from his home in Oshkosh. The United's coach, Bryan Johnikin, recognized that Haliburton’s unique shooting form needed refining. At one practice, Johnikin used his 3-year-old grandson as a defender to highlight Haliburton’s low release point. The result was humbling—his shot was blocked by the preschooler. “I left in tears because I was so embarrassed of what was going on,” Haliburton reminisced.
Despite the unconventional shooting form, Haliburton’s determination never wavered. His distinctive shot begins with the ball in front of his chest and ends with a catapult-like motion that produces significant sidespin. Although nontraditional, it has proven effective. “To the average fan, or anybody who plays, obviously it isn't textbook. But there's no denying how effective it is. It's straight cash, is the best way I can put it," said Pacers guard TJ McConnell.
Haliburton’s record speaks for itself. He has only shot below 40% from behind the arc once in six seasons between Iowa State and the NBA. That lone dip in his shooting percentage occurred last season when he rushed back from a hamstring injury, illustrating his commitment to the team's success even when not fully recovered.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 185 pounds, Haliburton is now a prominent figure in the NBA. His journey from being doubted by his early coaches to becoming a star player underscores the unpredictable nature of talent development in sports. "Because I don't ever want to get back to a place like that," Haliburton said, reflecting on his past struggles and the drive that continues to fuel his successful career.
From Oshkosh to the global stage with Team USA, Haliburton’s story is inspirational. It highlights the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and the willingness to embrace and refine one’s unique strengths. As he continues to shine in the NBA and beyond, Haliburton remains a prime example of how nontraditional paths can lead to extraordinary success in the world of sports.