Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers guard and two-time All-Star, has channeled the label of being 'overrated' into a source of motivation during the 2025 NBA playoffs. This critical assessment, initially presented by his peers, has led to Puma commemorating the sentiment with a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase 'Overrate That.' Haliburton emerged as the leading vote-getter in a poll conducted by The Athletic's Sam Amick and Josh Robbins, which sought to identify the most overrated players in the league.

The resulting discourse generated considerable attention, although the methodology may not have held significant weight in the vast landscape of the NBA. With only 90 players responding to the poll, a relatively small sample size for the league, it was notable that 13 players chose Haliburton as their candidate. In response to this label, the 25-year-old expressed a philosophical outlook, indicating he has developed an 'immunity to rejection.' He cited discussions with elite players such as Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics as pivotal in shaping his perspective on peer evaluations.

Haliburton acknowledged the human aspect of receiving critical feedback, admitting that being labeled overrated could indeed sting. However, his performance on the court—highlighted by key shots and engaging with opposing fans—demonstrates his resolve to prove his skeptics wrong. Regardless of the outcome of the Pacers' postseason journey, including a potential matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, the 'Overrate That' T-shirts will serve as a lasting reminder of an impactful playoff run.