As a rookie with the Sacramento Kings, Tyrese Haliburton said it was a dream come true to go head-to-head with Steph Curry.
Three seasons later, nothing -- except the team he plays for -- has changed.
The now-rising star guard with the Indiana Pacers has learned to appreciate the competition while still admiring one of the greatest the league has ever seen.
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SIGN UP HERE “That's the great part about the NBA, especially where we’re at now. I truly believe we have three, four, five of the greatest basketball players ever in the league today, Steph being one of them,” Haliburton told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Carlos Ramirez. “So an opportunity to get out and compete with him any night is a great opportunity.
“And [it’s] something that I really enjoy because obviously, that’s a level that I want to get to one day and so competing with him is really exciting for me. It’s always a great challenge.”
Haliburton missed last week’s matchup against the Warriors at Chase Center with groin soreness but will be ready to go when the two teams face each other Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The 22-year-old guard has had an incredible start to the 2022-23 NBA season, averaging 19.4 points on 47.7 shooting from the field and 39.7 from 3-point range, along with 4.3 rebounds and a league-high 10.8 assists -- all career-highs.
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At the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline, Sacramento shocked the basketball world by dealing Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson to the Pacers for star center Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and a 2027 second-round pick.
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With Indiana, he doesn't get to play against Curry and the Warriors as much as he did when he was with the Kings, but he's enjoying every opportunity he can get against the 3-point god.
"Being with the Kings, it was great because we played them more, but now being here in Indy, we only get to play them twice a year. And obviously, I was hurt the first time so I'm just excited to be here and compete," Haliburton concluded.