Tyrese Haliburton credits Stephen Curry for NBA Finals success with Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton credits Stephen Curry for his NBA Finals success, utilizing decade's worth of Curry's defensive strategies.

Published on: Jun 15, 2025, 17:38:01 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Tyrese Haliburton credited his NBA Finals prowess to an surprising personality: Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, who guided the team to four titles.

Tyrese Haliburton's NBA Finals Performance Boosted by Curry's Defense Tactics and Personal Advice (Getty Images via AFP)

Haliburton’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, reportedly showed decade's worth of Curry’s defense strategy footage to help the Indiana Pacers point guard understand the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game-play. It seems that this ploy may be panning out well for the Pacers who now carry a 2-1 lead in this year’s NBA Finals following their 116-107 score win in Game 3 of the series.

A look at Haliburton’s scores in the Finals

Haliburton’s scores in the Finals so far which read as a 17.7 points average, 7.7 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in three games against the Thunder is owed in large measure to the footage he studied of Curry bashing defenders from San Antonio to Boston.

Also Read: Who is Dave Portnoy? Barstool Sports founder reveals why he voted for Trump

Haliburton opens up about Stephen Curry's advise to him

In a light-hearted 115-109 win against the Detroit Pistons in December, Haliburton jokingly blamed his beyond-the-arc struggles on ill-fated advice given by Curry. “Honestly speaking, I'm probably going to blame Steph. Because he convinced me to try out pre-game naps, because I told him I don't nap, and he told me to try it out and text him after the game and see the result. So he'll be getting a text from me shortly. No more pre-game naps for Tyrese,” he said in an interview soon after.

Curry’s influence on young talent ranging from Anthony Edwards to Haliburton has had an undoubtable impact on their court vision and ability to defend against the most ferocious teams.

Considering how Haliburton grew up idolizing Curry during his days in college at Davidson, the ability to reach out to him for personal advice at this moment probably comes as a welcome surprise to the Pacers player.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.