Indiana Pacers star Tyrees Halliburton knows the arguments about his play. The NBA Finals are more than just numbers, so he hopes that more people will look beyond the statistics.
Tyrees Halliburton has always seen basketball as a sport focused on winning. Winning is always the focus, so having a good box score number is a bonus. He saw this in a discourse about the NBA Finals, an elite basketball series.
Basketball needs to transcend numbers, especially at every magical moment. Game 1 in the final is a good example as Halliburton didn’t have the best box score number. However, he stepped up for the Indiana Pacers, playing the biggest play with the winner of the game.
Halliburton knows that box scores limit the way people sometimes watch basketball. Of course, that helps, but that shouldn’t be the only way people watch sports. That’s not the right way to see a series like Pacer with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As Halliburton interacts with people on social media, he sees the story about his game. Some people recognize him as a passive player because of his pass-first style. It should not be a story about his game, as Halliburton is a scary offensive player for any defender.
Halliburton’s play is beyond numbers due to his leadership and how he calls a shot on the floor. Even when he doesn’t have the ball, he plays for his teammates. It can come through his instructions or off-ball screen.
Pacers Guard is one of the NBA’s floor generals, and it’s clear when watching the game. Unfortunately, some people only look at the box score and don’t know what Halliburton is doing. This is an unhealthy perspective on the game and the hard work of the player, which Bam Adebayo previously called out.
“It’s unorthodox. A word that’s easy to use. My jumper, the look, is always criticized for coming into the NBA. That’s a big part and I think it’s affecting games that aren’t necessarily flashy box score numbers.”
“I think a lot of box score watchers are the way games fans sometimes digest it. If the box score doesn’t seem to be expected, then I don’t think it will stop as well.”
Despite the noise surrounding his game, Halliburton will not change anytime soon. That’s what he did regarding his jump shot comments. He keeps pushing on what he knows and what he feels good.
Halliburton is the type of person who rolls along with punches to learn from them. This attitude helped him during the 2024 Olympics. Given that Pacer is 1-0 in the NBA Finals, it worked for him.
He is also a vocal player, so he hopes that more people will understand and see the game better. He wants basketball fans to become smarter viewers and to thank the players. While Halliburton is good enough to have flashy numbers, other players aren’t lucky enough to appreciate their work.
In the statement he made about the Box Score Watcher, people need to consider them. Halliburton hopes the sport moves forward, and that’s to watch the game. These NBA Finals are a good starting point as everyone works hard to win the trophy.