The NBA is full of excellent players in both the Western and Eastern Conferences.
While there are many well-established superstars in the NBA, every season, new players break that barrier of stardom in the league.
This season, it’s the turn of Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton to take that next step.
Although Haliburton made his first-ever NBA All-Star appearance last season, the 23-year-old has seemingly entered another realm of stardom in the 2023-24 NBA season.
So much so that NBA legend Kevin Garnett has hailed Haliburton as a candidate to win the 2024 NBA MVP, via his official Twitter handle.
“Haliburton in that convo. What convo? Yeah… that convo,” Garnett said of Haliburton.
Haliburton in that convo. What convo? Yeah… that convo 💯 🔥
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) November 22, 2023
Looking at Haliburton’s numbers this season, he’s averaging 24.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 12.0 assists per game for the Pacers.
The even more amazing aspect of Haliburton’s game is his terrific shooting from the field.
The one-time NBA All-Star is currently shooting 51.8% from the field, 45.8% from the three-point line, and 92.6% from the free-throw line.
Now, these are solid numbers, but considering the Pacers are still 8-5 and in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, it may be too soon to include Haliburton in the MVP race.
Sure, if he can maintain these numbers over the course of the season, with the Pacers improving as well, that’s a completely different conversation.
But being on a small-market team, it will be extremely hard for Haliburton to get the media on his side.
NEXT: Pacers Star Matched LeBron James With Historic Performance