Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Maintaining Christian Perspective
As good as Tyrese Haliburton played Tuesday night — a performance that ranks among the best in NBA history — there’s something he tries to keep above basketball stardom.
The Indiana Pacers' young star is a practicing Christian who attends pregame chapel services. He recently said in a YouTube interview with GQ Sports that he understands where his foundation is built.
Video via GQ Sports on YouTube
“Just understanding that I’m made in the image of God,” Haliburton said while holding a Bible. “In a world where you have a bad game and they kill you on social media, or confidence goes up and down, I can always come right here. This is my peace. Just understanding I’m made in his image, and he’s the only one who can judge me.”
It’s refreshing to see an up-and-coming star who isn’t afraid to share his faith.
On Tuesday night against the New York Knicks, the 25-year-old Haliburton showed how high his game is soaring. Haliburton did something no player has ever done in the playoffs. In a game where the Pacers moved within one victory of the NBA Finals, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, Haliburton cut loose for 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and zero turnovers.
He became the first player in playoff history to total at least 30 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds without committing a turnover since the latter became an official statistic in the 1977-78 season.
Let that sink in. That’s 47 years of playoff history. Michael Jordan didn’t do it. Kobe Bryant? Nope. Surely LeBron James had a game like that? No. Haliburton’s numbers are incredible by themselves. To record those stats takes a fearless effort. And when an NBA player performs at that level and speed, turnovers are going to happen. But not on this night.
Haliburton displayed an incredible team effort. He took only 23 shots in 38 minutes, sharing the ball with effortless ease. He also played well on the defensive end with four steals.
It takes a certain edge to compete at that level at this stage of the postseason. And sometimes the pressure creates cracks in the foundation. The example for Haliburton came in the Game 1 win over the Knicks, when he hit what he thought was a game-winning shot. Instead of reacting with grace, he made a choking gesture, holding his hands around his neck and mocking the Knicks players and fans.
One of the difficult roads Haliburton will have to navigate throughout his career is reacting better in those moments. It’s a challenge to do the right things in the spotlight for any player. But for a Christian, the challenge is more difficult.
If Haliburton fails on the court, he will be criticized like any other player in the league. But if he fails as a player and as a Christian, he will be criticized for his performance and his beliefs.
That’s why it’s a good thing Haliburton said he regularly attends chapel before the games.
“When I got to the NBA, they do chapel before every game,” Haliburton said. “There’s always a meeting where both teams, coaches, everybody’s welcome to come in and do like a 15-minute service. It’s been really good for me.”
The better Haliburton gets in his NBA career, the more he will need to cling to his faith. And the practices of Bible study and regular worship can help him maintain his Christian integrity.