On March 12, 2025, when the final whistle blew at the Gambridge Arena, the Alphabet Bro’s desperate three pointer slipped through the frame, and the 20,000 spectators erupted in cheers that nearly toppled the roof of the arena. Tyrese Halliburton in the last 3.1 seconds of the game completed a miraculous “3 +1” quasi-kill, so that not only the Bucks swallowed the bitter fruit of three consecutive defeats, but also the Pacers’ record to 36 wins and 28 losses, and the current fourth place rivals. But this game was much more than that – fans witnessed the ups and downs of a young point guard’s season, and this incredible shot was the most dramatic footnote to injuries, doubt and self-redemption.
From exhaustion to explosion: Halliburton’s journey to the 2024-25 season.
The price of constant play.
On September 11, 2023, Halliburton played for the U.S. men’s basketball team in the third-place game of the Men’s Basketball World Cup, and despite playing nearly 31 minutes, he was unable to win a medal for his country. That same day, on the other side of the world in Indianapolis, many of his Pacers teammates had begun an impromptu practice in preparation for the new season. Halliburton, fresh off the national team, barely had time to catch his breath before diving into the Pacers’ minicamp. The intense pace of play took a heavy toll on him.
The following 2023-24 season was successful for Halliburton, but it was also long. The Pacers went straight to the playoffs with 47 wins and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the entire season lasted a full eight months, from the preseason to May 27, 2024, when the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals was played. For Halliburton, who had national team duties, the journey was even longer – starting with the World Cup in August 2023 and continuing through the 2024 Olympics in Paris, he played almost constantly for as long as his body would allow.
The consequences of accumulating fatigue quickly became apparent. Midway through the season, Halliburton suffered a hamstring injury and had to come back early to comply with the NBA’s new 65-game rule. This decision had a direct impact on his performance: his scoring average dropped from 23.6 to 16.8, his assists from 13.5 to 9.3, and his three-point shooting percentage from 40.3% to 32.4%. To make matters worse, his hamstring injury returned during the Eastern Conference Finals, causing him to miss the last two key games against the Celtics. He then re-injured it the following summer while participating in the Paris Olympics, forcing him to begin the rehab cycle again before the start of the new season.
Low form raises questions.
The early part of the 2024-25 season has been disappointing for Halliburton. Stats show he played in 52 games through All-Star weekend, averaging just 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game, his lowest totals in three full seasons with the Pacers. Some games are especially tough: For example, October 26 against the Knicks, he took eight shots (including seven from the three-point line) all iron, and ultimately zero points to end the game; November 9 against the Hornets, he scored only six points on two of the 11 shots, the fourth quarter by the core of the Hornets, LaMelo Bauer, a single-quarter bombardment of 17 points, and ultimately the team lost by 20 points; November 16 at home to face the Heat, although contributing to the 18 points, eight assists, but the defensive vulnerability is frequent. Assists, but the defensive loopholes appear frequently, the second half of the invisible, directly led to the collapse of the team.
Such performance triggered the dissatisfaction of fans, and some people even jokingly called him “Ha Dou”, flirting with him as the Three Kingdoms period of the Ah Dou like can not support. Social media was filled with comments such as “This is the player we signed at the top of the market?” or “We can’t even sell him now.” or “I can’t even sell him now,” and even his newly signed sponsors were targeted.
Turning Point: Rest and Rebirth.
Just when it was widely believed that Halliburton had signed a big contract and was on the upswing, things suddenly took a turn for the worse. He was not selected for that year’s All-Star team due to his poor form, but was given a rare opportunity to rest. This short vacation proved to be crucial for him.
Relax and find yourself.
In an interview, Halliburton confessed, “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good break. This All-Star break allowed me to finally relax a little bit, look back on the past year and think about how I can get better. He used the week to travel to Playa del Carman, Mexico, to get away from basketball and completely clear his head. He found a place to stay on the beach, read “Stop Self-Deceiving” by coach Drew Harron, and caught up on a few episodes of the classic American TV show “Firing Line. It was the first real vacation he’d taken in a long time, and “it felt good to get away from basketball for a while,” he said.
Numbers rebound, resurgence.
The recharging trip clearly did the trick. After the All-Star break, Halliburton was in the best shape of his season. Over the next seven games, he had six double-doubles, the only exception being a 22-point, nine-assist performance. During this time, his averages soared to 23.9 points, 12 assists and 2.6 steals per game, and he shot a whopping 54.5 percent from three, averaging 4.3 three-pointers per game. Even more amazing, he committed just eight turnovers in seven games, becoming the first player in NBA history to record over 500 assists in a single season while keeping his turnovers under 100!
With Halliburton’s return to form, the Pacers also went 5-2. The two losses were to the Nuggets and Heat, while the five wins were all double-digit blowouts, including wins over powerhouses like the Grizzlies, Clippers, Raptors, Bulls and Rockets, at least three of whom are expected to end up in the playoffs.
Heroics at critical moments.
Even after missing three games and suffering three straight losses recently due to hip discomfort, Halliburton has shown leadership in key moments. In the first game after the comeback, despite his hand not yet fully recovering, he shot 12 of 5 for only 14 points, but in the clutch, he made an incredible “3 +1” quasi-kill to help the team come back to win. After the game, when the reporter asked about the topic of injury recovery and rebounding, Halliburton smiled and replied: “Helping the team win the game, that’s what I really care about.”
Looking ahead: a new chapter in defining the East End.
From the contemplative man on Mexico Beach to the hero of the Bucks shutout, Halliburton’s story is not just a personal comeback, but an inspiring saga of perseverance and struggle. His experience tells us that no matter what kind of doubts and difficulties we face, as long as we keep our faith and try to adapt, there is always a chance to get back on our feet. Now, the young star point guard is taking one step at a time to regain his confidence and redefine the sky that belongs to his Eastern Conference. Where will he take the Pacers in the future? Let’s wait and see!
