Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George recently expressed admiration for Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, declaring him to be a potential superstar in the league. On the Podcast P with Paul George, he stated, 'In my eyes, I think he is a superstar. He's the face of the NBA. He is the number one option.' George elaborated on Haliburton's versatility, noting his ability to set up plays as a point guard while also having the skillset to be a late-game scorer. 'He’s been a clutch performer late in games,' George added, underscoring Haliburton's capacity to handle isolation situations, even if that is not his primary role. George expressed enthusiasm for Haliburton's continued success, conveying confidence in the young player's trajectory.

Haliburton has played a pivotal role in leading the Pacers to their second consecutive appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the team currently holds a commanding 3-1 series lead over the New York Knicks. George's perspective is particularly insightful, given his history with the Pacers, where he spent the first seven years of his career and emerged as a star. During his tenure, George helped guide the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2013 and 2014. Now, Indiana finds itself on the cusp of clinching its first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.

The Pacers have shown exceptional performance throughout the 2025 postseason, having defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games during the first round, followed by another five-game series victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Haliburton's contributions have been instrumental for an Indiana team that concluded the regular season ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. His playoff averages of 19.4 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game reflect significant improvements over his regular-season statistics. Notably, the Pacers have a plus-9.7 net rating with Haliburton on the court in the playoffs, contrasted with a minus-8.6 net rating when he is off the floor, highlighting his impact. Although the 25-year-old has yet to receive an MVP vote in 2025 and possesses only two All-Star nods, his efforts may soon garner him broader recognition, especially if he can lead the Pacers to secure their first Larry O'Brien Trophy.