Following Team USA’s fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, young Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton continues to grapple with the disappointment of the team’s unexpected result.
In an interview with Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Haliburton openly shared his ongoing struggle to come to terms with the outcome, highlighting the profound impact the tournament had on his personal and professional growth.
Vardon’s poignant inquiry into the aftermath of the FIBA World Cup prompted an honest reflection from Haliburton, who emphasized the lingering frustration and determination to transform his approach to the game.
Reflecting on the World Cup outcome, Haliburton expressed his lingering frustration: “Still not over it. It’s frustrating. Everybody was mad, of course, but it’s like, for me, I haven’t won since like my sophomore year in college (at Iowa State).
“So it’s just like really opened my eyes to some real stuff in my life, honestly. It was like, ‘I got to change my habits and certain things to be tired of losing.’ I’m not a loser, it’s not what I do. And I’m not going to let that continue to be what I am.
“So everybody keeps asking, ‘What are your individual goals this year?’ I just want to win, like, I’m tired of losing. Been frustrating the last couple of years, but I think that USA stuff kind of really opened my eyes. I can’t continue to do this in my life.”
