Tyrese Haliburton’s Status as Face of the NBA Slammed by NFL Hall of Famer

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated May 30, 2025 2:36 PM ET

Tyrese Haliburton is once again having a solid run in the NBA playoffs. After taking his Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics last year, they returned to the same stage, this time against the New York Knicks, the team they beat to face the Celtics in 2024.

Haliburton has made quite an impression on those who didn't believe he could rise to the challenge. He led multiple last-minute comebacks during their postseason run, shocking the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Knicks.

They are one win away from the NBA Finals. The star point guard has become one of the biggest stories in the postseason, but his impact is still not enough to earn a bigger status in the league.

While Stephen A. Smith doesn't consider the former Sacramento Kings player a superstar, Shannon Sharpe agrees that Haliburton has become a big deal in the league. However, he doesn't see the Pacers' leader as a solid prospect to become the face of the NBA.

During Thursday's episode of his "Nightcap" show, the NFL Hall of Famer sat with former NBA champion Mario Chalmers and Cincinnati Bengals legend Chad Johnson to talk about Haliburton's reputation in the league.

After reading that Paul George considered Haliburton the face of the league, Sharpe had a strong response, saying that nobody is thinking of the young star as the one responsible for carrying the league's image.

"Ain't nobody thinking Tyrese Haliburton is the face of the NBA," Sharpe said. "It's just hard for a guy to be the face without being able to be flashy. You see, Magic had the smile, we see Jordan up over the top, we see Dr. J could fly through the air, we see Kobe, we see LeBron, we see Steph. I mean, that's kind of the package that you need to have.

"I just don't think he's what get people to get out of the house and go into their pocket like, 'Damn, I gotta go see Tyrese play tonight. I don't view him as that."

Alright, who thinks Hali’s a superstar? Ok. If you were down to your last dollar, would you buy Pacers tickets or a sandwich?

If you know the origin of that hypothetical then it’s time to schedule your yearly eye exam @ShannonSharpe @ochocinco @mchalmers15 @ShayShayMedia_ pic.twitter.com/kKXKDj18RD
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) May 30, 2025