NBA exec explains why Tyrese Haliburton's 2024-25 season is off to a slow start

Through five games in the 2024-25 season, the Indiana Pacers stand as one of the most underwhelming teams in the league. Though they are fresh off their win against the reigning champion Boston Celtics, little has gone right for Indiana so far. They are 2-3 and look like a shell of the team that made a conference finals appearance last season.

It is too early in the season to panic, especially since they looked very close to the team that led the league in points per game last season against Boston. However, there are still reasons for concern, and a lot of it stems from the lack of consistent production from star Tyrese Haliburton.

So far, the Wisconsin native is averaging 14.6 points, 5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Additionally, he is shooting 34.6% from the field and 25% from the three-point line. It is a small sample size, but it is clear that Haliburton is struggling to begin the season, raising genuine concern for the team's outlook for the remainder of the season.

Anonymous NBA exec says Haliburton is not 'playing with that same pop' from last season

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, an anonymous NBA exec spoke about Haliburton's start to the year and attributed his inconsistencies to his lack of "pop" from last season.

"Last year, he'd pull up from just inside half court and bury shots. He just isn't playing with that same pop this year," a rival executive told ESPN.

One of the most notable changes from last season's Pacers team to this season's is their lack of pace and high tempo. This is what set them apart from every other team last season and led to them being arguably the best offense in the league. A large part of this was because of Haliburton's fit in the system and being able to play explosive offense. This is missing through five games so far this season.

Furthermore, as Windhorst mentions, Haliburton has evidently taken a step back since suffering a hamstring injury in January. It is unclear whether the 24-year-old is still dealing with any lingering issues or not, but it is obvious that he has not been able to fully bounce back since the start of the new year, despite his successful campaign and playoff run.

While there is some hope that Haliburton and the Pacers will get their groove back, especially after their promising victory against the Celtics, it is important for them to figure things out sooner rather than later. The Pacers' identity and system are based on their fast-paced offense, which starts with Haliburton. Getting back on track is crucial if the Pacers want to become legitimate title contenders.