![Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the third quarter in game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images[]'](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_35,w_6708,h_3773/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/105/01jx2z5fbhrggmphy4kt.jpg "Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the third quarter in game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images[]'")
If there's one thing Tyrese Haliburton is doing this postseason, he is establishing himself as one of the most clutch players in the NBA, even though he did not receive a single vote for the league's Clutch Player of the Year award this season. In poetic fashion, his performances in the clutch helped send the New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson (who won the award this season) home, and it also played a big role in the Indiana Pacers' stunning Game 1 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this year's MVP.
Giving the award to Brunson was arguably the right call, and it is important to remember it only applies to the regular season. Still, it is interesting that Haliburton out-clutching him in the playoffs helped his team make an NBA Finals appearance.
Haliburton has been crucial to Indiana's success for quite some time, and that is becoming even more true this season. He has the ability to carry the team on his back when they need him the most, and he is a huge reason the Pacers are just three wins away from an NBA Championship.
Tyrese Haliburton has been fantastic all postseason
The Pacers are now in their fourth series in the playoffs, and each series has had one stunning late-game comeback victory that went their way. In each of those games, Haliburton played a major role, whether it was as simple as making the right decisions at the right time or even being the one to hit the last shot, much like he did in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Through 17 games in the playoffs so far, the Wisconsin native is averaging 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. Additionally, he is shooting 46.6% from the field during those games and has come up big when it matters the most. The playoffs are far from over, and a lot still needs to go Indiana's way for them to win it all, but Haliburton is putting the team in a great position to succeed.
As the playoffs continue, the Pacers will need to continue stepping up and bringing their A-game. This especially applies to Haliburton, who is rapidly climbing the superstar ladder and remains the engine that gets the Pacers going offensively. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, Haliburton is making a major impact, and that should terrify the rest of the league.