Point guard Tyrese Haliburton spent the first one and a half seasons of his NBA career playing for the Sacramento Kings alongside another ball-dominant guard in De’Aaron Fox. The fit wasn’t a perfect one, but both players possessed a lot of talent with All-Star upside. Alas, to realize that potential, they had to go their separate ways.
That is what happened ahead of the 2022 trade deadline. Halliburton was traded to the Indiana Pacers for a package centered around Domantas Sabonis. There were a lot of people excited about what could come for both players as the clear-cut lead ball handler. Both franchises have to be ecstatic about how things have turned out thus far as both are showcasing their All-Star potential.
Haliburton was given the reins to Rick Carlisle’s offense and he hasn’t looked back. Indiana is one of the most surprising teams in the early going as they are 12-8 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The play of their starting point guard is a big reason for that.
The Iowa State product is putting together a career season, averaging 19.9 points and an NBA-high 11.3 assists per game to go along with 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 33.8 minutes per game. His 3-point shooting is down slightly on more volume, but the rest of his efficiency numbers are in line with his career numbers.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Tyrese Haliburton & Indiana Pacers Updates
While he has some very impressive performances thus far this season, what Haliburton has accomplished in the last three games has been historic. Haliburton has recorded 40 assists in the last three games against the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers, and Los Angeles Lakers without recording a turnover.
That makes him the first player in NBA history since individual turnovers began being tracked during the 1977-78 season, to have 40+ assists in a three-game span without a single turnover.
That is a truly eye-popping statistic given how often the ball is in his hands. Turnovers are just a part of the game, whether it is a bad pass or an offensive foul. For Haliburton to not commit one during this stretch is astonishing.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Tyrese Haliburton & Indiana Pacers Updates
To put into perspective how impressive his performance of late has been, take a look at the other leading assist men in the NBA. Rounding out the top five behind Haliburton are Trae Young, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Darius Garland. Combined, they only have three games this season in which they committed zero turnovers.
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