See rapper 50 Cent ring the huge cow bell, fan reaction to Tyrese Halliburton return before Sacramento Kings beat Indiana Pacers 137-114. By Jason Anderson| David Caraccio
The Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton are one win away from the NBA Finals.
Indiana took a 3-1 series lead over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, powered by Haliburton’s record-setting playoff performance Tuesday night.
Haliburton joined Nikola Jokic and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA playoff history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists in a game. What set Haliburton apart: he did it with zero turnovers.
In midtown Sacramento, bars filled with fans — many loyal to the Kings — watched Haliburton showcase his leadership and creativity on the court. Each no-look pass and deep three stirred both awe and regret.
Joe DeJesus, a Kings fan, admitted he’s enjoying the NHL playoffs more than the NBA because of the pain that comes with witnessing the success of Haliburton, as he dominates the playoffs.
“It hurts to see a guy, a potential Finals MVP, who could’ve been playing at Golden 1 Center,” DeJesus said of the former Kings point guard. “But he’s playing in Indiana. That’s just tough to see after all the years that we went through. And it hurts seeing that we traded to the wrong guy.”
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the hoop past the New York Knicks during Tuesday’s Eastern Conference Finals game in Indianapolis. The former King and his new team are a win away from the NBA Finals. Trevor Ruszkowski Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
A look back at the Haliburton trade
Drafted 12th overall by the Kings in 2020 and a finalist for 2021 Rookie of the Year, Haliburton averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 109 games for Sacramento. He was traded alongside Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb three years ago.
“I think it’s awesome,” DeJesus said of Haliburton’s ascent. “He didn’t do anything wrong. He’s just doing his thing, and he’s balling.”
In a 2022 Players’ Tribune column, Haliburton recalled feeling devastated when he learned of the trade. “It felt like something I cared about was ending way too soon,” he wrote. “I really, really, really was all in on Sacramento.”
Haliburton had expressed on multiple occasions that he wanted to be a key piece that helped turn the Kings franchise from a losing culture into a winner, similar to how Chris Webber did for Sacramento decades ago.
“I wasn’t shy about it,” Haliburton wrote at the time. “I would tell people, straight up, ‘I want to be that next C-Webb for this city.’ That was my whole mindset. I wanted to become one of those players who got drafted somewhere and built a legacy — on and off the court. I wanted to become someone the people of Sacramento knew was in their corner.”
Kings fans, at the time, shared that sentiment. Many saw the trade as a gamble on Sabonis to end the franchise’s 16-year playoff drought, which it did in 2023.
“I was sad to lose Haliburton because he wanted to be a King,” said Trevin Poullard, a Sacramento fan. “But I was also happy that we got Sabonis.”
Some Kings fans still root for Haliburton
Despite the pain, many fans remain loyal to Haliburton.
“He wanted to be a Sacramento King,” Poullard said. “I always wish the best for people that wanted to be a King and got traded away.”
Poullard, still, said he was still rooting for Haliburton in these playoffs.
For Cameryn Walker, it’s more complicated.
“I’m happy for him. He used to come into my job all the time,” Walker said. “I’m happy for him. I don’t want to see him win a championship, but, like, if he does, I’m happy.”
Walker said he didn’t want to see him win a championship because he’d have to face the hard cold truth, “I’m a Kings fan, you’re like damn man that could have been us.”
Xavier Mascareñas Sacramento Bee file
“I’m a die-hard Kings fan, but I’m also realistic. Everybody who leaves us gets better when they leave.”
Since joining Indiana, Haliburton has averaged 19.5 points, 10.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds over 224 games. He became an All-Star, won Olympic gold, and led the Pacers to two conference finals. During the regular season, he averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.2 assists.
Haliburton’s rise adds pressure on the Kings
An NBA Finals berth would mark Indiana’s first since 2000. Meanwhile, the Kings have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons following their 2023 breakthrough.
Sacramento has since overhauled its roster and leadership, acquiring DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, firing Coach of the Year Mike Brown, replacing GM Monte McNair with Scott Perry, and trading De’Aaron Fox.
Watching Haliburton play on Tuesday night, fans couldn’t help but question their franchise’s direction.
“The Kings organization makes questionable decisions,” Poullard said. “Like trading Haliburton, trading for LaVine and DeRozan — to slow down our offense.”
Julian Randolph, another Sacramento native, said personnel alone doesn’t guarantee success.
Point guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) warms up prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Haliburton and Buddy Hield were traded to the team in 2022 for Domantis Sabonis. Trevor Ruszkowski Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
“If we have Haliburton, and we’re not using him up to his potential or allowing him to be the best self he could be, what’s the point of having him on our team?” Randolph said. “He’s a product of his team. He’s a product of the Pacers and a good organization that believed in him. He got pieces that literally fit around him.”
Walker agreed, saying Haliburton likely wouldn’t have reached his current level in Sacramento.
“Look at what we did with De’Aaron Fox. Look at what we did with Boogie (DeMarcus Cousins),” Walker lamented. “We had amazing talent on our roster, but we didn’t do anything for them to bring them to this level of a Western Conference championship.
“I hope that we can get there with somebody.”
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Marcus D. Smith is The Sacramento Bee’s Elk Grove reporter. He joined The Bee in 2020, covering Black communities for the Equity Lab. Prior to The Bee, Smith covered high school sports at the Citrus Heights Sentinel. He received his journalism degree from Texas Southern University.
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