Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shines in NBA League Pass Value Player Rankings

The Indiana Pacers have no shortage of noteworthy bits this season. Atop that list is the awe-inspiring play of first-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who has singlehandedly breathed new life into a franchise once stuck at crossroads.

That’s why it’s no surprise that the Pacers have gotten more acclaim than usual on a national level. Their robust representation during the recently concluded All-Star Weekend proves that, but furthermore, unlike most teams outside the playoff picture, Indiana has been a pretty pleasant watch for fans and pundits alike this season.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shines in The Ringer’s NBA League Pass Value Player Rankings

In The Ringer’s NBA League Pass Value Player Rankings, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton was slotted in at 15th place, besting the likes of Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard, and Jayson Tatum.

"He’s [Haliburton] hitting all the statistical benchmarks you’d want out of an up-and-coming star—the shot looks great, and he’s banging deep 3s off the dribble from just this side of Muncie—but the shooting’s secondary when you’re talking about the joys of watching Haliburton run the show. He’s a wonderful host. There’s a warmth to his play, an eagerness, a desire for his teammates to feel taken care of, respected, seen. Haliburton really ups the joie de vivre levels, crucial for a lead ball handler with other young perimeter beasts on his roster. He can move the defense with a look or a lift and never rushes things. There’s a wiliness to him when he has the ball in his hands. Vivacious playmaking. Light with the touch, light with the feet, light with the mood. He is deceitful and inventive. He is buoyant. He is an All-Star. Watch him. The screen fizzes."

Haliburton’s Most Improved Player-worthy campaign has converted a lot of doubters into diehards, so his inclusion in the list is far from surprising. With the regular season nearing its endgame, the 23-year-old ranks second in assists with 10.3 dimes per outing, ahead of usual suspects Trae Young and two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic.

Tyrese’s passing pizzazz and heady playmaking aren’t his only selling points. While not as ball dominant as his other contemporaries, he’s a dangerous scorer at all three levels, touting amazing efficiency on a nightly basis with 48.9/40.7/86.4 shooting splits.

Clearly, Tyrese Haliburton has been an eye-candy on the court this season, arming the Indiana Pacers not only with a franchise centerpiece, but also a much-needed show-stopper that should keep a lot of eyes on the franchise moving forward.