NBA legend Magic Johnson has made his expectations clear for Tyrese Haliburton as the Indiana Pacers face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in what has become a defining Finals matchup.
The Los Angeles Lakers icon recently used his platform on ESPN to deliver a direct message to the young point guard about what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Johnson openly challenged Haliburton to elevate his scoring while maintaining his elite playmaking abilities during the series.
“What he’s gotta do, is understand what he has to do to help the Pacers beat OKC. You can’t just have 15 assists and 12 points or 15 points. That’s not enough. You gotta score in this series. You gotta remember that … OKC is the highest-scoring team in the league. So you have to personally, Haliburton, come out and say ‘I got to get my assists but also I got to score,'” Johnson said during his First Take appearance.
.@MagicJohnson says Tyrese Haliburton needs to "understand what he has to do to help the Pacers beat OKC" 👀
"You can't just have 15 assists and 12 points. … You gotta score in this series." pic.twitter.com/CqMtpMswyW
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 12, 2025
The criticism comes despite Haliburton’s recognition as one of the premier facilitators in the league.
His court vision and ability to create for teammates has been on full display throughout the postseason, including several clutch game-winning moments that helped propel Indiana to this stage.
However, Magic believes the young star needs more consistency on the offensive end.
Haliburton’s scoring output through the first three games tells the story Johnson is referencing. The point guard posted 14 points in Game 1, followed by 17 in Game 2, and 22 in Game 3.
While those numbers represent solid contributions for a player making his Finals debut, they pale in comparison to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explosive performances for Oklahoma City.
The contrast between the two dynamic guards has been one of the series’ defining storylines.
Johnson’s message centers on mental toughness and the ability to rise to the occasion when facing elite competition.
With Rick Carlisle’s strategic guidance in place, the foundation exists for success.
Now it falls on Haliburton to seize the moment and prove he belongs among the game’s elite performers.
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