The Indiana Pacers have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season.
After finishing the 2022-2023 campaign with a 35-47 record, the Pacers are out-performing expectations with an 8-5 record to start the year.
One of the reasons for their success is the impressive play of Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton has impressed all year, but his play in the Pacers’ most recent game brought him to a whole new level.
According to StatMuse, Haliburton is the second player in NBA history to achieve 35+ points, 15+ assists, 5+ made-three-pointers, and a 60% or better mark from the three-point line in a single game.
The only players in NBA history with
35+ PTS
15+ AST
5+ 3P
60+ 3P%in a game. pic.twitter.com/qLG4AZAsnK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 22, 2023
The only other player to accomplish this feat?
LeBron James.
Haliburton seems to be in a league of his own to start the year, and it’s proven by being in this elite tier with James.
He is averaging 24.7 points per game, which is the 16th-best total in the league.
Haliburton’s 12 assists per game is the highest total of any player across the league, demonstrating he can not only score with ease, but he helps his teammates when it matters most.
He has nearly single-handedly brought the Pacers back into relevance in the Eastern Conference, which highlights the kind of impact one player can have on a franchise.
Whether the Pacers will end up making a significant playoff run at the end of the season remains to be seen.
One thing is for certain, which is that Haliburton is quickly becoming one of the best young players in the NBA, a great sign for the Pacers organization.
NEXT: Pacers Star Reacts To High-Scoring Game Against The Hawks