“Superstar” is a subjective opinion in the world of sports. It depends on personal perspectives and criteria, and isn’t an objective or universally agreed-upon title. So, one person may consider a player like Tyrese Haliburton a ‘superstar’ because of his skills and rising profile. Another might not because he hasn’t achieved enough yet compared to established megastars like LeBron James or Stephen Curry.
Especially after the Indiana Pacers’ postseason performance, precisely Haliburton’s it’s safe to say we’re seeing a rising star in creation. Even Rick Carlisle believes, “There will be a new statistical category perhaps named after [Tyrese Haliburton] somewhere in the future.” The 25-year-old guard scored a triple-double (32pts, 12 rebs, 15asts) in Indiana’s home win of 130-121 vs. the Knicks. However, that’s not all, he recorded zero turnovers, which is a record seen in the playoffs only after 1977.
But, this isn’t enough to satisfy Knickerbockers like Stephen A. Smith, who haven’t been in a great mood lately. Thus, speaking on First Take on Tuesday, the veteran analyst said, “Haliburton being a superstar, right? I’m like, yo, he’s a damn good player. He’s not overrated. The brother can ball. Again, but he ain’t a superstar.” Meanwhile, Celtics legend Paul Pierce took his chance at hitting Stephen A. with a jab after the Knicks were pinned later that day.
Taking to his X handle, the Hall of Famer wrote: “A @stephenasmith is Hali a super star if not he sure is doing a great job imitating one ”
A @stephenasmith is Hali a super star if not he sure is doing a great job imitating one
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) May 28, 2025
This playfully challenges Stephen A. Smith’s skepticism about Tyrese Haliburton’s superstar status. While not outright declaring Hali a superstar, Pierce points to his impressive 2025 playoff performance, averaging 18.5 points, 9.4 assists, and 5.5 rebounds in 13 games, as evidence that he’s playing at that level. Simply put, even if Haliburton hasn’t officially earned the “superstar” label, his on-court impact is making a strong case for it.
Meanwhile, Paul Pierce’s former Celtics teammate-turned-ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins agrees with Stephen A. Smith’s claims about Tyrese.
Stephen A. Smith gets backup for his ‘superstar’ notions about Tyrese Haliburton
To be clear, Molly Qerim told Stephen A. and Kendrick Perkins what she meant about the youngsters in the league. “We didn’t give the full context. We didn’t tell the whole story out of there. Right. It wasn’t just a superstar; it was a young superstar,” she clarified. “So we weren’t putting away, like, the LeBron and the Steph and the KD. We were just talking about young guns.”
Qerim meant that the term “superstar” referred specifically to young, emerging players, not established legends like LeBron, Steph, or KD, highlighting rising talent only. Now, Big Perk intervened and backed SAS’s claims about Haliburton. “I think we’re throwing around the word ‘superstar’ too loosely. Yes, I do. We’re anointing guys as being superstars that are really not superstars. Yes, we know Bron and Steph — they’re megastars. It’s the difference, right? Then we could start looking at everybody else. Anthony Edwards — own signature shoe, commercials, putting up big numbers, winning games,” he said.
May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Kendrick Perkins warns that everyone is tossing around “superstar” way too freely. Sure, LeBron and Steph are on another level — true megastars. But then, others? Not so fast. Take Anthony Edwards, for example. He’s got the shoes, the ads, the stats, and the wins. Yet, is that enough? That’s the real question. So, he further added: “I think when we start to think about guys that are superstars, we have to really think about that before we just anoint them as ‘superstars.’ I’m saying that for myself as well, but I don’t believe Tyrese Haliburton is a superstar.”
Thus, the superstar debate around Tyrese Haliburton is far from over, and that’s what makes it so exciting. On one side, you have legends and analysts questioning if he has truly earned the crown. On the other hand, a young talent is breaking records and stealing hearts with every game. It’s a reminder that greatness is not just about titles but the journey, and Haliburton’s story is just getting started.
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