NBA – Tyrese Haliburton (42 millions $ this season) : « Paid to play a child’s game »

Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif

In full swing with the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton is living the high life in Indiana. Heftily paid and successful on the court, the point guard spoke openly about his situation in a press conference.

The Pacers are definitely not done surprising everyone in the 2024-25 playoffs. Having already eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks in the first round, Rick Carlisle’s troops are in the process of achieving a huge feat as they now lead 3-1 against the Cavaliers, after the victory in Game 4. A win assured from the start of the match, which saw Tyrese Haliburton & co. lead by more than 40 points… before halftime.

Like last year, we could see Indiana in the conference finals. This could further boost the team’s confidence, especially for Haliburton, who had an excellent playoff run. Voted the league’s most overrated player by his peers a few weeks ago, the point guard has since gotten his revenge with some top-notch performances. Although he doesn’t really have to give his all in the series against Cleveland…

La dolce vita led by Tyrese Haliburton

One thing is certain: the 2024 Olympic champion is living the high life right now. Not only is Haliburton doing well in his sporting career, but he’s also sitting on a considerable fortune, with $42 million in salary this season and, more broadly, a titanic contract ($244 million over five years). Suffice it to say, the man in question is having a blast, as he made clear at a press conference:

It’s just basketball, bro. I get paid a lot of money to play a child’s game. So I love what I do. I love my job. Yeah, I don’t even really look at it as a job. I have a lot of fun with what I do. And I think there’s always commentary behind what I do, positive or negative. And it’s hilarious because a lot of times, it’s people who know nothing about me who have so much to say.

I’m a basketball player. I love what I do. I love being here in Indiana. I love playing for this organization. I feel like criticism, sometimes it’s warranted, sometimes it’s not, but it’s all a part of it. Our PR team tried to protect me a little bit last game, maybe went a little overboard. Maybe I should have overruled it and come out here. But I wasn’t really in the mood to speak. And so, if that’s a problem, you guys are more than willing to talk about it, so keep having commentary around it.

I’ll continue to do what I do and live my life the same way. But it’s all part of it, man. But it’s just basketball, and I guess I’d rather have this issue. I’d rather have you guys talking about me positively, negatively talking about me, than not care who I am at all. So I mean, life’s good.