What is going on with Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton?

Tyrese Haliburton made the 12-man Team USA roster at the 2024 Paris Olympics over the likes of Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell. 

The decision caused an uproar on social media, with many fans and analysts questioning what the Pacers guard had done to earn a roster spot over a host of proven NBA All-Stars.

Through the first 15 games of the season, Haliburton has vindicated the criticism aimed at him. The 24-year-old is averaging 15.3 points and 8.5 assists while shooting a career-low 37.5 percent from the field and 28.4 percent from deep. Beyond the counting stats, he has the worst TS% among all starting guards in the NBA who are clocking 30 or more minutes a game.

Haliburton has been so mediocre that he ranks 33rd among 35 players attempting at least seven threes per game, converting on only 2.2 of his 7.7 shots from deep. The numbers are alarming since he shot over 40 percent from three in each of his first three years and a respectable 36.4 percent last season while dealing with a hamstring injury. 

Among all Pacers, the $245 million franchise star is fourth in scoring and next to last in both shooting efficiency and plus-minus. His struggles have manifested in the Pacers starting the season with a 6-9 record a year after they reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Iowa State alum got off to a decent start to the season and had a statement performance against the Knicks on Nov. 10 with 35 points and 14 assists in a win. Since that game, he has shot 20-of-60 (30.3 percent) and is a -44 on the floor. It's been ugly to watch.

Haliburton's struggles reached a fever pitch on Wednesday night when he finished with four points (1-of-7) in a 130-113 loss to Houston.  

The Pacers entered the season with lofty expectations, with many analysts expecting them to build off their conference finals appearance last year. Thus far, the opposite has happened. It will be hard to script a turnaround until Haliburton gets out of his never-ending shooting slump.