For the fifth consecutive time, Team USA has earned a gold medal in the men's basketball Olympics. Largely led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry, Team USA ultimately defeated France in the gold medal game by a score of 98-87. However, something else that should excite Indiana Pacers fans specifically is that guard Tyrese Haliburton is now officially an Olympic gold medalist.
Haliburton was selected to represent Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the time, it was a controversial decision in the basketball world. This is especially true considering he was picked over other guards like Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson, and Trae Young. However, Haliburton's playmaking and ability to facilitate was ultimately the reason he received the nod.
Unfortunately for Pacers fans, Haliburton did not impact much on the court during the Olympics. Team USA officially played six games in the Olympics. However, of the six, Haliburton was a 'DNP' in three of them, including Team USA's game against France for the gold medal. Additionally, when he did play, Haliburton scored a combined eight points in roughly 28 minutes of play.
However, despite his lack of playing time (which did not seem to bother him), Haliburton is now the first Pacers player to bring home a gold medal since Paul George in 2016. While this is an impressive achievement, Haliburton is just getting started.
Tyrese Haliburton may not be done with the Olympics just yet
The last couple of years of Haliburton's career have been pretty good. In addition to now winning a gold medal, he has been selected to two All-Star teams and one All-NBA Third Team in the last two seasons. Additionally, he just led the Pacers to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2014 and signed a five-year, $244.6 million contract extension last year.
Not only does Haliburton's future in the NBA look bright, but his career in the basketball world seems like it is just beginning.
The Wisconsin native is a top candidate to participate in the Olympics again in 2028 and potentially 2032 as well. At just 24 years old, the sky is the limit for Haliburton. And for Pacers fans, dreams of an NBA championship are alive and well as long as the new Olympic gold medalist continues to develop.