Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Doubles Down on Favorite NBA Team Growing Up
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Doubles Down on Favorite NBA Team Growing Up originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton has stood out all postseason long, hitting four game-winning shots and helping punch Indiana's first ticket to the NBA Finals since 2000.
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Haliburton has averaged 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game during these playoffs. On Thursday, he and the Pacers shocked the sports world once again, overcoming a 15-point deficit in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to beat the Thunder 111-110 on Oklahoma City's home court.
The come-from-behind victory and star guard's game-winning jumpshot sparked reactions from some of the game's all-time greats, including Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade.
"Oh my God! Superstar! Superstar!" Wade exclaimed on his livestream.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0).Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
After seeing Wade's animated reaction to his shot on Saturday, Haliburton revealed that the team he grew up rooting for was Wade's Heat.
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"That's pretty fire because, you know, I'm well documented, I was a big Heat fan in that Heatles era, and D-Wade's a guy I've gotten to know pretty well through our agency and stuff," Haliburton said. "So, that means the world because he's definitely a guy I've looked up to my whole life, and him showing love, that was pretty cool."
Haliburton credits Wade for being a role model to him since a young age, and is grateful to have grown a closer relationship with him as his career has developed.
Indiana's superstar and assists leader is not one to shy away from the bright lights, and is looking to extend his team's series lead on Sunday night when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers at 8 pm EST.
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Related: Pacers Make History With NBA Finals Game 1 Win Against Thunder
Related: Dwight Howard Sends Tyrese Haliburton Message After NBA Finals Heroics
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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