Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. Grace Smith/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Tyrese Haliburton is learning to survive as a star in the NBA

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Dec 11, 2024 8:36 AM ET

Tyrese Haliburton entered the 2024-25 season after winning a gold medal with the Team USA Olympic basketball team. His inclusion on Steve Kerr's roster was the culmination of a meteoric rise since his move to the Indiana Pacers. Haliburton is seen as a future star and arguably the best playmaker in the NBA.

However, with a growing reputation comes increased attention from opposing defenses. To begin the new season, the 24-year-old has struggled to reach his usual heights, especially in terms of scoring.

When speaking to the media during a post-practice news conference on Tuesday, Haliburton admitted that he's adjusting to the increased defensive attention he's receiving.

"I think there’s more full-court denial than I’ve ever seen, more of an emphasis on taking me out of our offense," Haliburton said. "But I just gotta do a better job of still moving without the ball, going to be a screener, using screens, all those things. But I think that’s the biggest thing is just the off-ball denials."

Haliburton's struggles are a learning curve. Part of being a star-level talent is dealing with increased attention from opposing defenses. You're featured on the scouting report. You're seen as the metronome of your team's offensive approach. As such, Haliburton's struggles are to be expected. Most All-Star players have been through this growth period.

Nevertheless, that doesn't make things easier for the Pacers. They ended last season on a high, having made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. They were also finalists in the debut season of the NBA Cup. Rick Carlisle's team was meant to take another step forward this season. However, development is never linear, as Haliburton and his teammates are currently finding out.

Once Haliburton figures out how to navigate his new status as a star talent and the on-court attention that comes with it, the Pacers will reemerge as a genuine threat. Until then, they must continue navigating the current teething issues, knowing that things will get easier. It won't take long before Indiana is back, challenging deep into the postseason, and once it does, it will be there year after year for the foreseeable future.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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