Tyrese Haliburton is the man of the hour in the NBA. After hitting that ice-cold, game-winning shot to steal Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the whole world is buzzing about the Indiana Pacers’ electrifying young star. But just as Game 2 against the OKC Thunder was about to tip off, NBA legend and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas dropped a comparison on NBA TV that’s got everyone talking. He didn’t just praise Haliburton; he put him in the same rarefied air as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but with a fascinating and powerful twist that’s all about the coach standing beside him.
Zeke, a two-time champion and one of the fiercest competitors in league history, was breaking down what makes this Pacers team so dangerous. He pointed to the crucial dynamic between a superstar player and a championship-level coach. And that’s when he delivered this bombshell of a statement: “Kobe Bryant did not become Kobe until Phil Jackson got there. Jordan did not win until Phil Jackson got him.” Whoa. Let that sink in for a second.
“Kobe Bryant did not become Kobe until Phil Jackson got there. Jordan did not win until Phil Jackson got him.”
Zeke knows Rick Carlisle’s championship experience is a difference-maker for the @Pacers in the #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/EEjAeWVqBm
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 8, 2025
Zeke’s comparison hits just right for this Pacers team. Tyrese Haliburton is the brilliant, unorthodox, rising superstar. He’s got all the talent in the world, a unique playmaking style that has critics scratching their heads but leaves defenses scrambling. He’s the raw talent, the force of nature. And who’s his “Phil Jackson”? His head coach, Rick Carlisle. And honestly, it all adds up!
(This is a developing story…)
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