Tyrese Haliburton Bio
Tyrese John Haliburton is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on February 29, 2000, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he is a two-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Third Team selection. Nicknamed “Hali” and “the Haliban,” Haliburton is widely recognized for his playmaking, perimeter shooting, and late-game composure.
After a standout college career with the Iowa State Cyclones, Haliburton was drafted 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2020 before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2022. He quickly emerged as the franchise centerpiece and led the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years during the 2025 postseason.
Early Life and Background
Tyrese John Haliburton was born on a leap day, February 29, 2000, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He is the son of John Haliburton and Brenda Haliburton. His father is a basketball referee and former women’s basketball coach, while his mother has attended nearly all of her son’s basketball games. Haliburton is biracial; his father is African-American and his mother is white.
Haliburton grew up with a younger brother, Marcel, and two older half-brothers from his mother’s previous marriage. He developed his game in Oshkosh and played basketball at Oshkosh North High School, where he steadily grew into one of the top prospects in the state. As a senior, he averaged 22.9 points, 6.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game, leading Oshkosh North to a 26–1 record and a WIAA Division I state championship. He was named Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year and Oshkosh Northwestern All-Area Player of the Year.
Considered a three-star recruit by major recruiting services, Haliburton committed to playing college basketball at Iowa State on September 18, 2017. His high school résumé and family ties to the sport set the stage for a smooth transition to college basketball.
Path to Basketball
Haliburton made his college debut for Iowa State on November 6, 2018, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists in a 79–53 victory over Alabama State. He wasted little time making an impact, recording 15 points and 17 assists in a 101–65 win over Southern on December 9, 2018. Those 17 assists set the Iowa State single-game record, surpassing a mark that had stood since 1974. Through 35 appearances as a freshman, he averaged 6.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals, and was the only NCAA Division I true freshman, other than Zion Williamson, to accumulate at least 50 steals and 30 blocks.
As a sophomore, Haliburton was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice and produced a triple-double of 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in an overtime loss to TCU on January 4, 2020, the first triple-double by an Iowa State player since Monté Morris in 2016. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals before a fractured left wrist ended his sophomore season on February 8, 2020. He was named to the second-team All-Big 12 and announced his decision to enter the 2020 NBA Draft.
Tyrese Haliburton Career
Sacramento Kings (2020–2022)
The Sacramento Kings selected Haliburton with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he signed his rookie contract on November 27, 2020. He debuted on December 23, 2020, coming off the bench for 12 points, four assists, two rebounds, and a block in a 124–122 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets. On April 14, 2021, he recorded a career-high six steals in a 123–111 loss to the Washington Wizards, though a left knee injury later limited him in his rookie year.
Haliburton finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team for 2020–21. In his final Kings appearance, he posted 13 points, 17 assists, six rebounds, and two steals in a 113–103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sacramento, with a surplus of point guards, traded him to Indiana on February 8, 2022, as part of the package for Domantas Sabonis.
Indiana Pacers (2022–Present)
Haliburton made his Pacers debut on February 11, 2022, scoring 23 points with six assists, three rebounds, and three steals in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He quickly became the team’s offensive engine, and in 26 games after the trade he averaged 17.5 points and 9.6 assists. On July 1, 2023, he agreed to a five-year maximum extension worth up to $260 million, and team president Kevin Pritchard identified him as the Pacers’ long-term cornerstone.
Haliburton was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve in 2023 and an Eastern Conference starter in 2024 at the All-Star Game held in Indianapolis. He scored 32 points with 10 three-pointers in the 2024 All-Star Game, finishing just two votes shy of MVP. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in both 2024 and 2025, and he led the league in assists during the 2023–24 season while setting the Pacers’ single-season assists record.
NBA Finals Run and Injury (2025)
In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Haliburton delivered one of the most clutch postseason runs in league memory. He hit game-winning shots against the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks, fueling Indiana’s run to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. In Game 1 of the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he buried a go-ahead jumper with 0.3 seconds left in a 111–110 comeback win, the latest game-winning shot in a Finals game since Michael Jordan’s 1997 buzzer-beater.
He continued producing in Games 3 and 6 but suffered a torn right Achilles tendon 4:55 into Game 7 and was unable to return. The Pacers lost 91–103 to the Thunder, and on July 7, 2025, the team announced he would miss the entire 2025–26 season. After surgery, Haliburton posted a positive message to fans, expressing faith and a commitment to return.
Driving Style and Strengths
Haliburton is a 6-foot-5 point guard who excels as a high-volume three-point shooter despite a visually unorthodox release. His court vision allows him to function as the Pacers’ primary distributor, and his reputation as a perimeter threat creates passing lanes for teammates. Under head coach Rick Carlisle, Indiana has played a fast pace, with Haliburton directing the offense and hitting clutch shots throughout the 2025 postseason.
Notable Events and Milestones
Haliburton became the first player in NBA history to record 40-plus assists with no turnovers over a three-game stretch in late 2022, and he is one of only a handful of players to record 20-plus points and 20-plus assists with no turnovers. He joined John Stockton and Magic Johnson as the only players with back-to-back 20-point, 20-assist games, and he set the Pacers’ franchise record with 23 assists against the New York Knicks on December 30, 2023.
Tyrese Haliburton Career Wins
Tyrese John Haliburton has built a résumé highlighted by NBA All-Star selections in 2023 and 2024, All-NBA Third Team honors in 2024 and 2025, an NBA assists title in 2024, and an NBA All-Rookie First Team nod in 2021. He has also captured gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
NBA Highlights
Haliburton has helped the Indiana Pacers reach the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals and the 2025 NBA Finals. His signature moments include a 0.3-second game-winner in Game 1 of the 2025 Finals, a career-high 44 points against the Miami Heat on November 30, 2023, and a franchise-record 23 assists against the New York Knicks on December 30, 2023.
International and Other Performances
At the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, Haliburton led the United States to gold and was named to the all-tournament team’s All-Star Five. He also represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, helping the team qualify for the 2024 Olympics, and won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a Final rematch with France.
Tyrese Haliburton Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Tyrese John Haliburton is the son of John Haliburton and Brenda Haliburton. His father is a basketball referee and former women’s basketball coach, and his mother has been a constant presence at his games. He is a cousin of former NBA player Eddie Jones, a three-time All-Star who played 14 seasons, and of current Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs.
Personal Life
Haliburton has been dating Jade Jones, a former Iowa State cheerleader and college classmate, since 2019, and the couple announced their engagement on July 28, 2025. He has developed a close friendship with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Haliburton is a Christian and has spoken publicly about attending church regularly and attending chapel before games.
2025 Season Performance
Tyrese John Haliburton’s 2024–25 regular season was another All-NBA-caliber year, as he was named to the All-NBA Third Team for the second consecutive season. He recorded multiple games with 30-plus points and 15-plus assists without a turnover, including a 33-point, 15-assist, zero-turnover performance against the Miami Heat on January 2, 2025. He also surpassed Chris Paul for the most such games in NBA history.
In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Haliburton authored one of the great postseason runs in Pacers history, delivering game-winning shots against the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks. He averaged more than 25 points across the Eastern Conference Finals and led Indiana past New York in six games to reach the NBA Finals.
Despite tearing his right Achilles tendon early in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton expressed optimism about his recovery and reiterated his commitment to the Pacers. The team announced on July 7, 2025, that he would miss the entire 2025–26 season while rehabbing the injury.