Talen Horton-Tucker
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers might have found a diamond in the rough in Talen Horton-Tucker as the sophomore evidently showed some really promising signs with his performances this season.

However, his former Iowa State teammate and Sacramento’s rookie Tyrese Haliburton is not surprised by what Tucker is bringing to the Lakers.

(via SB Nation.com):

“It’s not surprising by any means, what he does on a nightly basis because that’s just literally who he’s been for as long as I’ve known him,” Haliburton said during his appearance in “The Old Man and the Three” podcast with JJ Redick.

“So it’s like, what I see is not a surprise, but there are some people who are, like, going nuts about what he does and I see it and I’m just like ‘there’s even more that we have yet to see.’

“I think what people don’t realize is Talen is the same age as the rookies. Because we’re the class of 2018, but he’s a year younger, so really he should have been a freshman last year and this should have been his first year.

People don’t understand how young he really is and what he really can bring to L.A…Talen’s a guy that’s ready for his opportunity and what we see: trust me, there’s a lot more to it.”

Haliburton was the 12th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft and he is one of the elite rookie performers at the start of the season, despite Sacramento’s mediocre performances.

In 12 games with the Sacramento Kings, Haliburton has averaged 11.0 points per game on 51.6% shooting from the field and 51% shooting from the three-point range.

On the other hand, his former Iowa State teammate is coping well with the Lakers’ title-contending squad showing brief glimpses of greatness.

Tucker averages 6.8 points along with 2.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds on 15.8 minutes per game in 13 appearances this season.