Tyrese Haliburton credits 'NBA 2K' for his basketball IQ

Tyrese Haliburton believes the popular video game "NBA 2K" taught him the nuances of basketball. The Indiana Pacers star is among the best point guards in the NBA and currently leads the league in assists per game. He's staking a claim to be crowned the best passer in the league. 

During an interview with The Ringer, Haliburton revealed how the game's camera angles taught him how to read the game.

“Honestly, a lot of my hoop knowledge in knowing how to play comes from video games,” he says. “When you’re playing 2K and you’re on that camera angle where you can see everything ahead of you, that’s how I think sometimes.”

Watching Haliburton play is an exciting experience. He seems to always make the right read. He hits big shots. And he knows how to get his teammates going. Haliburton is the type of guard everybody wants to share the floor with. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle knows he has an elite talent on his hands. 

At 23 years old, Haliburton has yet to enter his prime. The opportunity for development is exciting. Being able to envision the game from a birds-eye view is a good skill to have. Of course, Haliburton is likely being metaphorical. It's impossible to imagine the court and all the moving pieces while the game goes a million miles per hour. 

The truth is Haliburton's ability to see the floor and make decisions at pace is what makes him an elite guard.

Playing computer games likely gave him the tools to understand where cutters would be, or where certain players like to receive the ball. However, it's the reps he's gotten on an NBA court that have helped him develop into a cerebral ball-handler. 

No amount of gaming can provide the on-ball manipulation that Haliburton brings to the table. He's an All-Star for a reason. It won't be long until he's leading the Pacers back into the playoffs and making a splash on the biggest stage of all.