Tyrese Haliburton spent this summer with Team USA at the Paris Olympics. During practice sessions, he learned from some of the best players in the world, including Steph Curry. While Haliburton didn’t play much for Steve Kerr’s gold-medal-winning team, he undoubtedly made good use of his time, picking the brains of veteran stars from around the league.
Unfortunately, whatever lessons Haliburton learned didn’t help him in the Indiana Pacers’ opening win against the Detroit Pistons. Haliburton shot a shocking 1-of-9 from three-point range and 6-of-18 from the floor. His assist numbers were also lower than you would expect for one of the best playmakers in the league.
When addressing the media after the game, Haliburton blamed his poor shooting on some advice he received from Curry. He admitted that he won’t be sticking to the routine he had tested out before the game.
“He convinced me to try out pregame naps, because I told him I don’t nap,” Haliburton said. “And he told me to try it out and text him after the game…So he’ll be getting a text from me shortly. No more pregame naps for Tyrese.”
Haliburton’s comments were clearly made in a joking manner. While he’s unlikely to continue taking a pregame nap after such a poor showing, his performances will undoubtedly improve as he shakes off the rust that comes with the offseason.
Furthermore, Pacers fans should be encouraged that the team secured a win despite their star player struggling throughout the night. It’s a testament to the growing talent pool on the roster.
Rick Carlisle has an exciting young team on his hands, and their run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season likely won’t be the last deep playoff push we see this team make.
Still, it will be interesting to see what other lessons Haliburton learned this summer because sleeping before a game can’t be the only piece of information he took from his time with some of the most talented players of the last generation.
