Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton Receives Interesting Comparison to 2 NBA Stars From Cleveland Cavaliers Coach 1 Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton Receives Interesting Comparison to 2 NBA Stars From Cleveland Cavaliers Coach

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated May 6, 2025 9:12 AM ET

Tyrese Haliburton has earned plaudits from Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson after the Indiana Pacers guard played a huge role in the team’s 121-112 Game 1 stunner last Sunday.

The reigning NBA Coach of the Year compared Haliburton to LeBron James and James Harden. Atkinson also called out The Athletic’s anonymous player poll last month, in which Haliburton gained the most votes for the “most overrated player” tag.

“So I think he’s one of the elite guards in this league, that poll, I don’t know those guys. They must not be watching the same film I’m watching,” Atkinson said about Haliburton via Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton Surpasses Chris Paul in This 1 Wild Point Guard Stat 1 Mar 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates his made basket and foul in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

“I think he’s one of the hardest, hardest covers in (the league), elite because he’s got both. He can score and then he’s a lead passer. Elite jumper. It reminds me of the LeBrons of the world, the James Hardens of the world. They can just fire passes on a dart to any spot on the court,” he added.

How Tyrese Haliburton did in Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers

Tyrese Haliburton looked far from the “overrated” player he was in Game 1, as the Indiana Pacers star notched 22 points, three rebounds, 13 assists, and three blocks on 9-for-15 shooting from the field last Sunday.

Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton Receives Interesting Comparison to 2 NBA Stars From Cleveland Cavaliers Coach 3 Mar 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers teammates swarm and celebrate the game-tying basket made by guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

He hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the final period to spark a 15-4 run. Haliburton also made a crucial defensive stop with less than three minutes left by blocking Max Strus’ three-point attempt and converting it into a layup for a 10-point lead.

“I thought we did a good job when that ‘Cavalanche’ was on the way. We did a great job of weathering that,” Haliburton said after Game 1.