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Tyrese Haliburton was never supposed to be the face of a franchise this fast. A late lottery pick of the Sacramento Kings in 2020, the mantle wasn’t quite up for taking with De’Aaron Fox firmly entrenched as the star...
A late lottery pick of the Sacramento Kings in 2020, the mantle wasn’t quite up for taking with De’Aaron Fox firmly entrenched as the star around which all things revolved. However, Haliburton quickly established himself as someone who furthered the Kings’ seemingly never-ending rebuild. Someone who could help get them back to the postseason for the first time in more than a decade.
Then they traded him.
In the months since last season’s blockbuster deal sent Haliburton to Indiana for All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, the third-year guard hasn’t been shy about discussing the surprise of being traded by a team he was so committed to. Now, distanced from the fog of that shock, he sees the opportunity that lies ahead of him. With the Indiana Pacers, Haliburton has a chance to lead his own team.
The third-year guard sat down with For The Win to talk about his expanded role on the court and also a new one off of it as an investor and brand ambassador for Cheribundi’s natural performance wellness products.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Tyrese Haliburton: “Oh, 100 percent. It’s the first whole, full offseason for me, where Summer League is normal time, normal time between the end of the year and start of the next season. So definitely feel like it’s kind of my first real offseason. Last year, I stayed with the team the whole summer, and this summer, I get to venture out on my own and spend a summer in LA – a lot of guys in the NBA do that. So, just kind of my first summer to really be an NBA player, I guess.”
TH: “Yeah, I think there’s a lot of different things. I just think my responsibilities going into the summer are a lot different than they have been the last two summers where, you know, I’m expected to be a full lead guard in the NBA now. So just different expectations as a creator. I feel like I’m already a pretty good facilitator but just being able to score the ball better. The load, or what I’m being asked to do, is more than probably I’ve ever been asked to do in terms of responsibility. So, yeah, I’m just really excited for it. It’s an opportunity that everybody wants in their life and grew up wanting this opportunity in the NBA, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
TH: “Yeah, no question. When I first got there, it was easy. I mean, outside of the fact that I was staying in a hotel for a little bit, it was not hard at all. Truthfully, just for me, that Indiana welcomed me with open arms, that I was able to come into an organization that showed me love from Day One. And people really value me not only as a basketball player but as a person as well. The people around me, the people who surround me made the transition easier. And, you know, I kind of just went along with it.”They're in a rebuild, similar to your past situation, but have some good young pieces – we just had the draft.
TH: “No, I don’t think there’s anything specific. We’ve got a lot of young talent, a lot of guys that are on their rookie deals and have only been in the league for a couple of years. So you just want to see consistent growth amongst us. Guys really getting in the gym, working hard…because the older you get, it’s almost like it’s maintaining to a point – where the younger you are in the league, the more you need to work on different things, different aspects and need to really add things to your game, and expectations are more clear from the organization for players and things like that. So just really excited to see the growth from guys. I keep up with almost everybody for the most part, talk to them on a consistent basis. So, I’m really excited to see them in Summer League but also see them as the summer goes on.”
TH: “No, no. He actually came for a [pre-draft] workout. We struck up a conversation, grew a relationship from there. So we stayed in contact, and as the draft approached and got closer and closer, I thought that was the right pick for us. Not only that it was the right pick for us, but that it was super realistic that that’s what had a good chance of happening. So, I was with him the night before the draft, we had a small conversation and he spoke to me about how he wanted to come to Indy. I was really excited to hear that. I was really excited that we were able to get him to join us.”
TH: “Yeah, I think they go along hand in hand. I think he’s a really physical guy that can really do so many different things on the floor. And he’s just got a lot of room to grow as a player and he’s already so good as it is. So I’m just really looking forward to having a relationship with him and being able to grow together as two young up and coming guys.”
TH: “Yeah, you know, I thought it was awesome, because it was kind of natural how it came together. It’s a product that I drink on a daily basis, a couple of times a day already. And when I had the opportunity to join the company as an investor and a brand ambassador, it was so easy, like a layup, easy decision for me. Especially because what I love about the products is not only does it taste good, but it’s one of the only sports performance drinks that’s scientifically proven to help recovery and help your body truly. So, it was definitely an easy decision.”
TH: “Yeah, so it’s interesting. To start the second year when I was with Sacramento, we had a back-to-back early in the year and they gave me Cheribundi and said that it was tart cherry juice, and it’s supposed to help recovery. And I really started to feel better after I started drinking more. I don’t really drink a lot of other drinks besides water, in terms of sports drinks. So when I was able to start drinking Cheribundi, I kind of became obsessed with it pretty fast. It doesn’t have added sugars and synthetics. It’s really just cherry juice, and the product that helps me in so many different ways. I’m somebody who used to feel like I was sick all the time. I know it’s kind of not safe to say, with what’s been going on the last two years. But I felt like I was down sometimes. And just the way that my life was and the sport I play, just on the move all the time. So, it really helped me recover faster. I just felt better overall.”
TH: “Truthfully, I got into Cheribundi this last season, and this is the healthiest I’ve ever been. I’m not kidding. Truthfully, I only missed two games all year with body things. I had COVID for two games as well, and I got traded for one game. But it’s the best my body has felt in so long. And I think Cheribundi has a big responsibility to do with that. I drink one every morning to start my day. I drink one before I go to bed. And I usually drink one in the middle of the day. So it’s like two to three a day. That’s just something that not only keeps me hydrated, but I just feel like it really helps my body stay right and healthy. It allows me to be at the top of my game.”
Article by Prince J. Grimes for For The Win!
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