Indiana Pacers: Evaluating Tyrese Haliburton’s Performance vs Puerto Rico

Ladies and Gentlemen, Tyrese Haliburton is back! 

After not playing a game since March 25th’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks and missing the final 7 games of the 2022-23 season due to ankle issues, Tyrese Haliburton has stepped onto the court again in Team USA’s first exhibition in Las Vegas against Puerto Rico on August 7th. Shortly after signing a $260-million maximum extension to stay in a Pacers uniform for the next five years, Haliburton is representing the USA in the FIBA World Cup. Unfortunately, Haliburton did not get the starting nod, instead losing it to fellow Eastern Conference guard and All-Star snub, Jalen Brunson.

Bench role aside, Haliburton is projected to have a sizable role in Team USA’s World Cup rotation, nabbing the backup point guard spot. Haliburton also got some flack from social media during the USA/Select scrimmages for his defense, or lack thereof, against the Select Team’s Cade Cunningham.

Defensive issues aside, Haliburton played quite a bit in USA’s victory against Puerto Rico in Monday’s exhibition, and while he didn’t score much, he did get to show a lot of what Pacers fans have come to know and love him for.