Tyrese Halliburton Was Frustrated He Wasn’t Drafted By The Detroit Pistons
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 24: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half of an NBA In-Season Tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
If it seems like it’s personal between Tyrese Haliburton and the Detroit Pistons, it sounds like it is. The Indiana Pacer guard, was a first time NBA All Star starter this season. The game was hosted by his hometown team and he was interviewed by Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks.
During the interview Rooks asked Haliburton, who was drafted #11 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, if there was a team that he took personal that passed on him. Surprisingly, he answered and without hesitation he said it was the Detroit Pistons.
Rooks started off by talking about the perceived holes in his game, not a good ball handler, wonky shot and being too skinny. Haliburton then said he would’ve loved to have been drafted by the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls or New York Knicks. The reason Tyrese Haliburton took the Detroit Pistons passing personally, was because they needed a Point Guard at the time.
[Related: Relive the Pistons Championship Seasons’ at the Detroit Historical Museum.]
During the draft, which happened in the middle of the pandemic, Haliburton was at home watching on ESPN. He said that the ESPN ticker showed him at the fourth player on the board after; Anthony Edwards. LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman. He then mentioned that he didn’t want to be drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers or Atlanta Hawks at five or six respectively.
The Pistons instead drafted French Point Guard, Killian Hayes (who coincidentally was cut from the team two weeks ago), while Haliburton started his first All Star Game this season. Rooks asked if he had something to prove when the Pistons are on the schedule. Tyrese said “that game, there’s some added juice for me, personally.”
Haliburton was traded to Indiana in February of 2023.
5 NBA Players We'd Love To See In the Slam Dunk Contest
This weekend the NBA will take over Indianapolis for All-Star weekend. On Saturday night, the Slam Dunk contest will serve as the grand finale of the day two events at Lucas Oil Stadium. That got us thinking about NBA stars we’d love to see in Slam Dunk contest.
Before we crack into the list, let’s take a look at the modern landscape of the NBA dunk contest. The biggest complaint about the event is that the biggest names in basketball rarely participate. Why is that? Well, last year at this time, Front Office Sports dove into this exact subject. “The last time a player from that season’s All-Star Game actually participated in the Dunk Contest was in 2017, when the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan competed,” they said.
Front Office Sports went on to list a lack of creative options, scoring, and top players not participating in the dunk contest as reasons why the competition had declined. “I think they’re maybe afraid to lose,” NBA Hall of Famer, and slam dunk legend, Dominique Wilkins said via Front Office Sports. Of course, potential injury could also be considered.
Though there has been a lack of star power in the Slam Dunk contest, there have been a few shining moments as of late. Last season, there was much confusion as to why the NBA was allowing a G League (minor league) player to participate in Mac McClung. Now with the Orlando Magic franchise, McClung was called up by his then-team, the 76ers, a few days before the contest. He would go on to win and thrilling fashion. Furthermore, McClung is just six-foot-two.
This Year’s Slam Dunk Contest
The NBA Slam Dunk contest will often be associated with the likes of Wilkins and Michael Jordan. In the late ’80s, these legends made our jaws drop dunking the ball during all-star weekend. Sure, we have had Vince Carter and the late great Kobe Bryant go in it and win it. However, you can’t help but think about what might have been, if these stars had won. Some of them came close, while others opted out.
Nonetheless, we do have some surprising and well-received news when it comes to the 2024 contest. Jaylen Brown, one of the biggest stars in the game, is participating. He will compete against last year’s winner in McClung. In addition, Jacob Toppin from the Knicks and Jamie Jaquez. Jr of the Heat are in. Perhaps with Brown participating, we will begin to see the trend of more all-stars opting into this fan-favorite event in the future.
Here are five players we’d love to see do their thing in the NBA Slam Dunk contest.
Mean Jean is the host of the Morning BOUNCE on 105.1 the BOUNCE. Jean is new to Detroit and is loving learning about the city. As a content creator for the BOUNCE, Jean enjoys writing about hip-hop and R&B music news, food, WWE, and all things Detroit.
