New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau Points Out Huge Pacers Problem Ahead of 2025 Eastern Conference Finals 8 May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Halliburton Is Not a Superstar According to Stephen A. Smith

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Reign Amurao | Last updated May 20, 2025 3:14 AM ET

The stage is set for the Eastern Conference battle between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks . They’ve worked their way to earn a spot in the third round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. One matchup that everyone is dying to see is the point guard battle between Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson. Both guards have done a lot to lead their respective teams all season.

Haliburton is considered a star in the league. He proved that when he made the All-Star team in 2023 and 2024. However, his slow start to the 2024-25 campaign resulted in him getting snubbed as a star.

Brunson, on the other hand, has made the All-Star team twice, in 2024 and 2025. It’s been a year where the Knicks’ star showed his growth and emerged as one of the top point guards in the league.

Leading up to their upcoming playoff series, however, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had something to say about the Pacers star. It’s not a secret that Smith is a Knicks fan, and that was evident on Monday’s episode of “First Take.” The longtime analyst made a comparison about who among the two guards is a superstar.

“(Jalen) Brunson is (a superstar). Not (Tyrese) Haliburton,” Smith said. “He is not overrated, he can play and he can close and I give him mad credit for that. But he’s not a superstar.”

“When you consider the undersized Brunson, the load that he carries … (Haliburton) isn’t asked to do as much to carry (the Pacers’) offense as Brunson does.”

"[Jalen] Brunson is [a superstar]. Not [Tyrese] Haliburton… he is not overrated, he can play and he can close… but he's not a superstar. … [Hali] isn't asked to do as much to carry [the Pacers'] offense as Brunson does."

—Stephen A. Smithpic.twitter.com/ts5GqswTVR

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 19, 2025