Team USA guard Tyrese Haliburton revealed that he wasn’t the only one recruiting stars this summer. During an appearance on The Pac McAfee Show, Haliburton addressed the story about him recruiting players to join him on the Indiana Pacers.
“The story about me recruiting players to Indiana got blown out of proportion,” Haliburton said, via HoopsHype. “They made it seem like I was the only one doing it, but everyone was recruiting.”
He explained that his recruitment efforts were magnified because of Indiana’s smaller market compared to other NBA cities.
Haliburton expressed pride in representing Indiana and made it clear that he’s committed to the Pacers. “Indiana is a great market. It’s a basketball state,” he stated. He also welcomed potential stars to join him, but emphasized, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Team USA’s 2024 roster was filled with superstar talent, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid. Haliburton noted that with so many high-profile players on the team, recruitment was inevitable.
In addition to the big names, Haliburton played alongside Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, and Anthony Edwards. “We’ve got a good thing going here,” Haliburton said of his time in Indiana and the team’s potential for growth.
While recruiting is a common part of modern NBA culture, Haliburton’s comments highlight how it’s an expected dynamic, especially during international competitions. As he explained, “everyone was recruiting,” and it wasn’t unique to him.
Though some players may be drawn to larger markets, Haliburton stressed his belief in the Pacers’ future. He affirmed his commitment, saying, “If anyone wants to play with me, they’ll have to come to Indiana.”
