The narrative surrounding Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has taken a notable turn in the 2025 NBA playoffs, particularly following a critical evaluation from his peers in the league. Following a poll conducted by The Athletic's Sam Amick and Josh Robbins, which aimed to identify the most overrated players, Haliburton emerged as the leading vote-getter. In response to this assessment, Puma has chosen to highlight Haliburton's journey by unveiling a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase, 'Overrate That.' This development has sparked a chatter that has far surpassed the quantitative merit of the poll itself.

The poll received 90 total responses, a small sample size for a league as extensive as the NBA, and 13 respondents selected Haliburton. However, rather than allowing the label of being 'overrated' to weigh him down, Haliburton has adopted a resilient mindset. He has credited his attitude towards such criticisms to discussions with seasoned players like Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. Haliburton expressed that forming relationships with highly respected peers has helped him realize that the opinions of the broader league do not define him. 'At some point, worrying about what my peers think only holds so much weight,' Haliburton remarked, reinforcing his belief in the importance of constructive relationships in the league.

Though he remains human and capable of feeling the impact of such a label, Haliburton has used it to fuel his performance. He has played with an evident chip on his shoulder throughout the playoffs, hitting crucial shots and engaging with opposing fans, which reflects his desire to prove his critics wrong. Even if the Pacers were to face challenges ahead, including a potential matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, the launch of the 'Overrate That' shirts signifies a memorable and impactful postseason journey for Haliburton and the Pacers.