Tyrese Haliburton Reveals Moment Joel Embiid Left Him 'So Pissed'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated May 29, 2025 12:28 PM ET

Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid have been competing against each other since 2020. They have seen each other more often after the guard was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers in 2022.

Besides their on-court duels, Haliburton and Embiid share a skills trainer. Drew Hanlen, one of the best in the game, has coached these two for several years, trying to help them unlock their potential while also encouraging rivalries between his clients.

Embiid has struggled with injuries in recent years, but none of that has prevented him from shocking opponents, especially during the summer. Haliburton, who is one win away from taking his Indiana Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals, was mesmerized and upset after finding out how quickly the Cameroonian-American star can get the hang of new plays.

Hanlen was the centerpiece of a feature written by Jared Weiss of The Athletic, in which he explained how he creates competition among his clients, who include Haliburton, Embiid, Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal.

The Pacers star explained that he couldn't fathom how quickly Embiid cracked a play he struggled with during his first summer.

“I think back to my first summer with Drew, and I was really struggling to pick up this (isolation) move we were working on. Then I got done with my workout, and Joel walked in and picked it up in 10 seconds,” Haliburton said. “I was so pissed because I was like, ‘How is this guy figuring it out before me?’ That made me want to come to the gym the next day and stay a little longer to figure that (expletive) out.”

The hard work has paid off for Haliburton, who has been one of the best performers of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Seeking their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, the Pacers are heading back to New York for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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