Tyrese Haliburton Joins Tom Brady Tier After Insane Achievement In NBA Playoffs

Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is playing at an unheard-of level in the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Tyrese Haliburton Joins Tom Brady Tier After Insane Achievement In NBA Playoffs

Tyrese Haliburton and Tom Brady (Image via FirstSportz)

Tyrese Haliburton has come a long way from being an often-overlooked guard when he was with the Sacramento Kings to becoming one of the better point guards in the league. Since he arrived at the Indiana Pacers, he has turned himself into a 2-time All-Star and has 2 All-NBA 3rd team call-ups to his name.

But those are just regular-season accolades, which quite a few media members point to when disregarding the 25-year-old’s status as a superstar. They believe he has not done enough to be called that, and needs to do more to become a fan magnet.

Admittedly, he is playing in Indiana, which instantly means he will not get the shine that other players in big market areas get. However, that is all before the Iowa State star started to make a name for himself in the playoffs.

Over the past two seasons, he has turned himself into some sort of a playoff master. In the 2024 playoffs, he was instrumental in leading his Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals. But an injury stopped them from progressing any further.

This time, so far, no injuries have been reported, and Tyrese Haliburton has used this chance to elevate his game. His clutch performances might be the most visible part of his game, but Sportradar analyst Todd Whitehead came up with some stats that have him sitting close to NFL GOAT Tom Brady.

Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 4 performance in comparison to NFL passes

Todd Whitehead used all the metrics available, as well as game footage, to analyse Tyrese Haliburton’s stellar Game 4 triple-double outing. After analysing the data, Whitehead came to the conclusion that the Indiana Pacers guard threw 77 passes covering 444 yards.

None of them resulted in a turnover, which is what cemented his place in NBA Playoff history. But that stat, when compared to NFL passes thrown in a game, makes for an interesting comparison. As per Whitehead, those 444 yards without a turnover place Haliburton third in yards without a turnover/interception.

That places him just behind NFL GOAT Tom Brady and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Brady threw for 505 yards back in 2018 against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. Brady lost that game, despite his heroic efforts.

Drew Brees threw 466 yards against the Detroit Lions back in the 2012 Wild Card round. His performance managed to help his New Orleans Saints win, but they stumbled to a loss in the following round. The Indiana Pacers hope Tyrese Haliburton’s performance does not result in a subsequent loss.

Tyrese Haliburton needs a few more performances such as this to win the Pacers’ 1st ever NBA title

Tyrese Haliburton is similar to Tom Brady and Drew Brees in terms of playmaking. But he has a far greater influence on the final score than Brady and Breese alone could do in football. The Indiana Pacers need him to continue avoiding turnovers and orchestrate their offense in the remaining days of the postseason.

Indiana Pacers need Tyrese Haliburton to continue his stellar postseason form
Indiana Pacers need Tyrese Haliburton to continue his stellar postseason form (Image via Indiana Pacers/X)

They are one game away from cementing their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000. All they need to do is avoid losing the pivotal Game 5. For that to happen, the Wisconsin native cannot afford to take a breather.

He will need to ensure his pedal is still glued to the floor. The 25-year-old has to ensure his teammates also get going soon, and they can finish the job in Game 5. The Oklahoma City Thunder have already booked their tickets to the NBA Finals. The Pacers cannot skip rest days, and thus need this win.

Only then can they hope that a well-rested Tyrese Haliburton leads them into the NBA Finals. There, he has to again orchestrate their game plan to help the franchise win its 1st ever NBA title. That would be a fitting end to a season when the point guard elevated himself to become a superstar.

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