In the final seconds of regulation at Madison Square Garden, with the Indiana Pacers trailing by two and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, Tyrese Haliburton didn’t hesitate.

He dribbled left, created just enough space, and rose for what he thought was the game-winning three. The shot dropped. So did the guard’s celebration—a now-infamous “choke” gesture aimed at Knicks fans in a nod to Reggie Miller’s legendary playoff taunt.

Only afterward did Haliburton realize his foot was on the line.

“I just tried to gather myself and knock the shot down,” Haliburton said. “I thought it was a three. I tried to hit the celly. It didn’t work, but we finished it in overtime.”

It was vintage Haliburton—a blend of confidence, showmanship, and clutch execution that has become the engine behind Indiana’s postseason surge. What the Pacers’ All-Star guard lacks in playoff experience, he more than makes up for in unflinching belief and an ability to elevate in the biggest moments.

A Response to Criticism

Haliburton’s rise has come amid outside doubt. Days before the second round began, The Athletic released its annual anonymous player poll. Among the results, one line stood out: Haliburton was voted the league’s “most overrated” player, earning 14.4% of the vote from 90 respondents.

Rather than dodge the label, Haliburton leaned into it.

“I love external motivation,” he told ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “Somebody’s talking s--t about me, I want to know because I want to respond. I want to go back at them.”

Since the poll was published, Haliburton has done just that—responding with poise, flair, and playoff brilliance. He’s averaging 18.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.6 assists through 12 games in the 2025 playoffs, shooting 46.5% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. In back-to-back games against the Knicks and Cavaliers, he dropped 31 points apiece, showing a willingness to take over when the moment calls for it.

“I already have the confidence to take the shot in the moment, but I have that confidence from my group,” Haliburton said. “My group wants me to take those shots. My coaching staff wants me to take those shots. Our organization wants me to take those shots. And I think now we're at the point where our fans want me to take that shot.”

Teammate Myles Turner summed it up simply: “He bets on himself. He’s very confident.

The Numbers Back It Up

Beyond the bravado, Haliburton’s numbers speak volumes. He’s led Indiana in usage and production, including a team-high 23 shot attempts in Game 1 against New York—exactly the type of offensive aggression fans and coaches have been urging him to show more of.

In closeout games during his NBA career, Haliburton is averaging 25.0 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds, shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. He leads all remaining playoff players in isolation scoring efficiency, generating 1.154 points per possession—better than even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson.

And when the stakes are highest, Haliburton hasn’t blinked. He’s one of just two players—alongside LeBron James—to record multiple go-ahead field goals in the final two seconds of a single postseason in the play-by-play era.

During crunch time, Indiana has outscored opponents by a playoff-best 160.5 points per 100 possessions. It’s no coincidence. Haliburton’s control of pace and decision-making has become Indiana’s heartbeat.

“When it went in, I thought my eyes might have been deceiving me in the moment,” he said of his Game 1 buzzer-beater. “But it felt good when it left my hand.”

A Leader and Lightning Rod

Haliburton’s leadership goes beyond the box score. His confidence has become contagious for a Pacers team that has repeatedly found ways to win when few expect it. Indiana has already come back from three separate deficits of seven or more points in the final minute of regulation this postseason—a feat matched by just one other team since 1998.

“We’ve shown it all year,” Haliburton said. “We’ve had to win in so many different random unique ways and today we just kept going, kept fighting and, uh, man that’s fun.”

He’s also embraced the role of agitator, drawing inspiration from his WWE fandom to rile up crowds and opponents. His on-court antics—like mimicking Sam Cassell’s dance after a clutch three or paying homage to Miller’s taunts—aren’t for everyone, but they reflect the edge he plays with.

And he’s not blind to how often the Pacers are overlooked.

“All I keep seeing is, ‘who's going to win the East’? Boston, Milwaukee, New York,” Haliburton said. “It’s like what are we doing? People didn’t watch us play until the playoffs... that respect comes with winning, and it’s coming.”

A New Era in Indiana

This marks the first time in NBA history that a lower-seeded team—Indiana—has reached the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons. It’s a testament to the Pacers’ resilience, and to Haliburton’s ascent from promising young guard to franchise cornerstone.

He’s not only carrying the mantle from Pacers legends like Miller, with whom he shares a mentor-mentee relationship, but carving out a legacy of his own.

“It’s just basketball, bro,” Haliburton said. “I get paid a lot of money to play a child’s game so, um, I love what I do. I love my job.”

Indiana now returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 with a chance to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Knicks. And with Haliburton at the controls—equal parts playmaker, performer, and provocateur—the Pacers know exactly who they’re following.