Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers are currently leading the NBA Finals series 2-1 after winning Game 3 in Indiana with the score 116-107 against the Thunder. Haliburton fell one rebound short of a triple-double as he finished the game with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Tyrese Haliburton's trainer showed him a decade's worth of footage of Stephen Curry torching the defenders in the NBA while preparing for the NBA Finals. Curry has inspired a generation of young talent, which has already started showing its colors in the NBA with its increased volume of three-point shooting. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated wrote about Curry's influence on Haliburton.
"After two games of wrestling with Oklahoma City’s defense, of battling waves of defenders that just kept coming, Tyrese Haliburton cracked open his laptop to study someone familiar with it. Few players in NBA history are as adept at shedding a physical defense as Stephen Curry, the Warriors superstar who has powered Golden State to four championships … and counting."
"Early in the week, Haliburton’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, fired off a file of a decade’s worth of Curry’s postseason field goals, a highlight reel of Curry torching defenders from San Antonio to Houston, Cleveland to Boston. A generation of shooters have been inspired by Curry. In his first NBA Finals, perhaps Haliburton could be, too."
Curry's influence on young players this season can find its roots in Curry's Olympic experience in the summer. He inspired the young stars Anthony Edwards and now, Tyrese Haliburton, during this run, and instantly saw an impact on their game. While he hasn't influenced Haliburton into shooting high volumes from range, his court vision and ability to blow by defenders have certainly interested Haliburton.
Tyrese Haliburton has averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in three games against the Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals so far.
When Haliburton Took Inspiration From Stephen Curry And Regretted It
Earlier in the season, Haliburton and the Pacers beat the Pistons 115-109 in a regular-season game in December. Haliburton struggled that night from beyond the arc as he scored 15 points, going six of 18 from the floor and one of nine shooting from deep.
Following the game, he spoke to the media about his struggles in the game and hilariously blamed Stephen Curry.
"Honestly speaking, I'm probably going to blame Steph," Haliburton said jokingly. "Because he convinced me to try out pre-game naps, because I told him I don't nap, and he told me to try it out and text him after the game and see the result. So he'll be getting a text from me shortly. No more pre-game naps for Tyrese."
Haliburton found a friend and mentor in Curry during the summer. Haliburton grew up watching Curry, even in his college days at Davidson. Therefore, even when he played him for the first time as a rookie, he was mesmerized. Now, getting to call him a friend and mentor probably feels surreal to him.
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