Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reflected on the moment he first met Tyrese Haliburton after the blockbuster 2022 trade that sent the guard from Sacramento to Indiana.
Speaking on The Zach Lowe Show, Carlisle detailed his initial conversation with Haliburton, who was just weeks away from turning 22 at the time.
“We met at a restaurant,” Carlisle said, via ClutchPoints. “I went up and I shook hands. I looked him in the eye and said, ‘I know how you feel. I know this is a shocking situation. But look me in the eyes and watch what I’m telling you. This is your team. You have the opportunity of a lifetime here. I’m turning the keys over to you.’”
That message proved to be a pivotal moment for both player and franchise. Carlisle praised Haliburton for embracing the responsibility quickly.
“To his credit, he took the keys and ran, and he jumped into stuff in the community right away,” Carlisle said. “He’s become a second iteration of Reggie Miller in many ways.”
Haliburton has since developed into one of the league’s top point guards, leading Indiana to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025.
The guard earned back-to-back All-NBA selections, highlighted by historic individual performances during the 2024–25 season. He became the first player in league history with multiple 30-point, 15-assist, zero-turnover games and later broke Chris Paul’s record for most career games with at least 20 points and 10 assists without a turnover.
Haliburton’s postseason résumé also grew quickly. He delivered game-winning plays against Milwaukee and Cleveland during the 2025 playoffs and guided the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.
In Game 1 of the Finals, Haliburton hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the latest game-winner in a Finals matchup since Michael Jordan’s shot in 1997.
Although his run ended with a torn right Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals, the 25-year-old reaffirmed his commitment to the franchise and city following surgery. The Pacers later announced he will miss the entire 2025–26 season.
Carlisle’s early words — “This is your team” — continue to define Haliburton’s role in Indiana. Even while sidelined, he remains the central figure in the Pacers’ long-term plans.
