How Did NBA 2K Acknowledge Tyrese Haliburton?

Although NBA 2K likes to add silly features such as go-karts and zany animations to its "Park" game mode, the video game franchise's roots remain on the NBA court.

Haliburton is all business, especially after his last 10 games. Despite a rough start to the 2024-25 season, the Pacers' point guard averaged 22.7 points on 58.9 percent shooting from the field and 56 percent from 3 on 7.1 attempts per game. In addition to his red-hot shooting, he's leading and feeding his team with 12.1 assists per game. 

On top of his statistical output, Haliburton's game-winning shot on TNT Tuesday, over Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, deserved the NBA 2K touch. 

NBA 2K25 included Haliburton's skipping celebration to use in multiple game modes to Bucks fans' displeasure. Haliburton has an 88 overall rating on NBA 2K, which should lead to numerous opportunities for the new celebration animation. 

The Pacers may play in a small market, but if they succeed in clinching the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, their reputation as a giant killer could continue if they beat the Bucks for the second consecutive postseason. If Haliburton resumes his video-game-number performances, they'll have a strong shot at extending their popularity among casual fans. 

Along with his signature unconventional shot animation, Haliburton continues to provide gamers with a unique playing experience, as he does in real life as a star, carrying himself in a vastly different manner than most of his NBA counterparts.