The prevailing lesson from this season echoes loudly: “Tyrese Haliburton possesses an extraordinary talent for passing.” This sentiment reached its zenith on Saturday when the Indiana Pacers’ guard executed what could arguably be considered the most audacious assist of the year against the New York Knicks.
In a remarkable display of improvisation, Haliburton transformed what seemed like an impending double-dribble situation into a 3-pointer opportunity. Transitioning down the court, he halted at the perimeter, feigned a shot attempt, and then, with Knicks’ guard Josh Hart closing in, executed a daring move. Haliburton propelled the ball off the backboard, redirecting it to Pascal Siakam, who capitalized on the opportunity with a corner 3-pointer, completing the highlight reel play.
If the concept of secondary assists existed in basketball, there would be legitimate debate over whether Haliburton should have been credited with two assists for this exceptional play. Regardless, he concluded the game with an impressive stat line, tallying 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting along with 12 assists and three rebounds in the Pacers’ 125-111 victory over the Knicks.
This year has been a revelation for Haliburton, emerging as a standout player in the league. He currently leads all players (minimum of four games played) in both assist rate, boasting an impressive 48.4%, and assists per game, averaging 11.9. His performance has elevated him beyond last season’s breakout success, prompting the Pacers to actively pursue building a championship-contending team around him, as evidenced by the acquisition of Siakam through a trade