Why Steph vs. Haliburton is matchup to look at in Warriors-Pacers initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
When Tyrese Haliburton leads the Indiana Pacers into Chase Heart on Monday, he’ll be going through the Warriors and the purpose guard he as soon as hoped could be his NBA mentor.
That will be two-time MVP Stephen Curry.
When Haliburton was getting ready for the 2020 NBA Draft, the Iowa State star expressed delight on the prospect of being chosen by the Warriors and serving as Curry’s understudy.
“Steph being top-of-the-line level guards ever play the sport of basketball and doubtless the very best shooter ever to play the sport of basketball, it might be massive for me to study from him and simply type of choose his mind,” Haliburton informed NBC Sports activities Bay Space on a pre-draft convention name. “After which take that problem on in observe as nicely, as a result of if I can keep in entrance of Steph and guard, I really feel like I may most likely guard anyone.”
The Warriors, holding the No. 2 total choose, chosen heart James Wiseman (who now could be an inactive member of the Pacers). Haliburton went twelfth total to the Sacramento Kings, who in his second season traded him to the Pacers.
It didn’t take lengthy for Haliburton to show he was prepared. He’d began 51 video games for the Kings that season and instantly turned the start line guard for Indiana. Inside a 12 months, he established himself because the crew chief and made his first All-Star Sport look.
After a sluggish begin this season, Haliburton, 24, has discovered his rhythm. Over his final 12 video games, he’s averaging 20.7 factors on 49.7-percent capturing from the sector, together with 41.7 p.c from distance, and eight.8 assists. His 4.33 assist-to-turnover ratio is fourth within the league.
Curry, 36, is averaging 22.4 factors per recreation on 44.5-percent capturing, together with 41.1 p.c past the arc. He’s coming off a stellar efficiency in a 113-103 highway win over the Minnesota Timberwolves final Saturday, scoring 31 factors, together with 13 in lower than three minutes down the stretch.
The would-be mentor vs. would-be mentee matchup seemingly will dictate the course of the offenses and the sport. Curry sees every recreation as a chance to show he nonetheless has it, whereas Haliburton continues to make his case of the very best younger level guard within the NBA.
Curry and Haliburton have been teammates solely as soon as, as members of Staff USA’s gold-medal-winning roster within the 2024 Paris Olympics. Whereas Curry was the star in the course of the medal spherical, Haliburton largely watched.
As teammates, Haliburton would have been OK with that 4 years in the past. Not now.
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