The Indiana Pacers are closing in on history. They are on the verge of making it to their first NBA Finals in 25 years. And riding on that upwards trajectory is Tyrese Haliburton. The sensational point guard made a statement in Game 4 against the New York Knicks. His spotless game was not only unprecedented, but eradicated the mantle of being ‘overrated’.
But despite such a glamorous performance and steering the Pacers one game away from a Finals appearance, is he indeed being pushed too far?
Chandler Parsons seems to think so. The former Rockets forward feels the term ‘superstar’ is being loosely thrown around. “If Steph Curry is a superstar, Tyrese Haliburton can’t be,” he said. However, despite holding the upper hand over Jalen Brunson in the series, Parsons thinks the Knicks’ magnitude propels him over Hali.
“I think Jalen Brunson even he is more of a superstar than Tyrese Haliburton. But there is levels. I think that comes with being a Knick. I think it’s the market of New York City. I think that fame and recognition, and notoriety that he gets simply playing in a bigger market helps his case of being a superstar,” Parsons claimed on Run it Back.
Parsons feels playing for a small-market team like the Pacers isn’t giving Haliburton the attention he could garner if he played for another team. So if he does want the superstar nod, beating Brunson twice in the postseason won’t be enough, according to the former Mavericks forward. However, it’s not about the market size.
“Jalen Brunson is more of a superstar than Tyrese Haliburton.”
– @ChandlerParsons explains the definition of a ‘superstar’
( @RunItBackFDTV )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 28, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton is still in the early stages of his career. In spite of his brief history in the playoffs, he has shown great poise and composure to handle the spotlight. Not only that, but he has managed to put up big games whenever the spotlight is on him.
I don’t know about you, but that’s the quality of a superstar. But most importantly, his presence has made the Pacers a dangerous team. Everybody around him is having some of their best campaigns, and his influence is largely the reason for it.
Maybe in a few years, if he continues to excel, the NBA community will recognize him. But although Parsons doesn’t rate him as highly, he couldn’t fault ‘perfection’.
The historic Game 4 by Tyrese Haliburton
After a major meltdown in Game 3, the Indiana Pacers were under the pump. They did hold a 2-1 lead, but no team had won at home in this series. This was the moment for them to potentially capture the golden ticket to the NBA Finals. And not only did they come down with guns blazing, but Tyrese Haliburton was on song tonight.
He punished the Knicks in what could be the most important game for the Pacers’ Finals hopes. He logged his first playoff career triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists. But it wasn’t just any ordinary performance.
Haliburton had a signature no-turnover game and quite literally orchestrated the Pacers’ high-paced offense. Even Chandler Parsons hasn’t come across many such performances in the postseason.
“I think we should just embrace what he is doing with this small market team in games like last night are unbelievable. He was perfect last night. He was one of the best playoff games I have ever seen,” he said about Haliburton’s incredible performance.
So superstar or not, Tyrese Haliburton is just the player the Pacers need at the helm. The team-first point guard can manage their high pace and is lethal when his shots begin to fall. Not many players have been able to lead such a team on the cusp of an NBA Finals. This is the second straight season Haliburton has gone to the ECF.
If he manages to jump over it this time (seems likely), it’s hard not to give him the superstar label. Then again, maybe he is more than that in Indiana.
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