NBA Legend Drops Bold Tyrese Haliburton Claim After Pacers-Knicks Game 4
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Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were able to win Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. With the win, the Pacers just one win away from punching their NBA Finals ticket and are now up 3-1 in the series.
Despite the Knicks keeping things close throughout the game, the Pacers made the necessary winning plays down the stretch. They will have a chance to close out the series and advance at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 on Thursday evening.
In the game, Haliburton put on a show for the fans. He also proved once again that he deserves a lot more respect than he has been getting over the last couple of years.
Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May...
Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. More
Photo byHe put together one of the best playoff performances in recent history. Throughout the game, he scored 32 points on 11-for-23 shooting, including 5-for-12 from beyond the three-point arc. In addition, he dished out 15 assists, grabbed 12 rebounds, and recorded four steals.
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Add in the fact that Haliburton didn't have a single turnover and the performance looks even more special.
Following the huge Game 4 win over New York, one NBA legend has spoken out with a bold claim about the Indiana star point guard.
During an appearance on "Speak," on Wednesday, Paul Pierce spoke out about Haliburton. He boldly stated that the Pacers' star is easily a top-10 player in the NBA.
.@paulpierce34: Tyrese Haliburton is easily a top-10 player in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/bl8PEI4sPw — Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) May 28, 2025
Haliburton has been hearing his name talked about a lot throughout the playoffs. Some believe he's a superstar, while others aren't ready to call him that yet. His performance in Game 4 will push him even further towards the superstar category.
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In the 14 playoff games he has played this year, Haliburton has averaged 19.4 points, 9.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of him, Haliburton is focused on one thing. He wants to bring a championship to Indiana. That is his only goal that far exceeds his personal numbers or some kind of "superstar" status the fans and media could give him.
As of now, Haliburton and the Pacers need just five more wins this season to bring home the first NBA championship for the franchise. The journey is far from over, but it has been extremely special and a new superstar has officially been born.
For more Indiana Pacers and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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