Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers may have had the biggest shot of his career on Wednesday night.
His buzzer-beater two-pointer shocked the New York Knicks, led to overtime, and ultimately set the stage for his team to take a huge 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
It was an amazing moment, one that will be talked about for a long time.
But does it make Haliburton a superstar?
Appearing on “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith said he still doesn’t view Haliburton that way.
“Superstar status is reserved for the select few, and I don’t view him that way,” Smith said, via NBACentral.
Stephen A. Smith still doesn’t view Tyrese Haliburton as a superstar
"Superstar status is reserved for the select few, and I don't view him that way."
(🎥 @FirstTake )
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 22, 2025
Smith made it clear that he greatly respects Haliburton and actually wanted his Knicks to draft him years ago.
But he still reserves the term “superstar” for other players and not Haliburton.
He doesn’t think that producing these kinds of shots lifts someone to superstar status.
However, many Indiana Pacers fans will push back against Smith because they think that Haliburton has been showing the level he’s at for a long time.
They point to the number of assists he creates and the way that he leads his team.
They also showcase his All-Star appearances and his gold medal with Team USA.
On top of that, Pacers fans will hold onto the fact that Smith is a devoted Knicks fan, so he’s not particularly happy with Haliburton right now.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what people call Haliburton.
After Wednesday’s game, he is a hero for Indiana, and in a few weeks, he could be a champion.
NEXT: Wild Stat Has Emerged About Tyrese Haliburton's Clutch Playoff Shooting