The Indiana Pacers defied expectations on their way to the 2025 NBA Finals, entering the season with 50–1 odds to reach the championship round, according to ESPN Research. Their surprising run included upset victories over both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, earning them the Eastern Conference crown and a Finals showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder. While their success was driven by elite teamwork, floor spacing, and fluid ball movement, a central force behind the Pacers’ “Cinderella story” was the record-setting play of point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton’s impact in the Pacers’ 2025 playoff run was undeniable — something that of course, didn’t go unnoticed by head coach Rick Carlisle. With averages of 9.3 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and just 1.6 turnovers per game during the postseason, Haliburton showcased elite efficiency and decision-making under pressure. His assist-to-turnover ratio ranked among the best in the playoffs, and he delivered in the clutch — including a game-winner in Game 1 of the Finals and a 32-point triple-double with zero turnovers in Game 4 of the East Finals. Carlisle even went so far as to compare Haliburton to Pacers legend Reggie Miller, citing not only his leadership but also his poise in big moments. According to Carlisle, he expressed to Haliburton that he has full trust in putting the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.
“He’s become a second iteration of Reggie Miller in many ways,” Carlisle said on The Zach Lowe Show. “It’s not just the similarity of their physical build, or some of their affect stuff, or their flair for the moment with the choke signs and all that stuff.”
Carlisle continued, “He knows that I have implicit trust in him. That at the end of games, whenever possible, we’re not calling timeouts, we’re putting the ball in his hands to create … it all culminated in this absolutely unbelievable run of shotmaking.”
Carlisle explained that his trust in Haliburton began as soon as he was traded to the Pacers from the Sacramento Kings in 2022. From the outset, Carlisle saw star potential in his new point guard — praising his elite playmaking and expressing a clear desire to “hand him the keys to the team” from the get-go.
“He was shocked that [the Kings] traded him,” Carlisle explained. “We met at a restaurant, it was him, Buddy Hield, I think Tristan Thompson was in the deal as well. Ty was the last guy to walk in.”
“I went up and I shook hands, I looked him in the eye and I said, ‘I know how you feel. I know this is a shocking situation. But look me in the eyes and watch what I’m telling you. This is your team,’” Carlisle said of the encounter.
He continued, “‘You have the opportunity of a lifetime here. I’m turning the keys over to you. I don’t want to call plays, I don’t want to run a lot of plays. You’re running this thing, and I am giving you my trust right now going forward.'”
Unfortunately, for now, Carlisle will need to lean on other Pacers players — like guard T.J. McConnell — as Haliburton is expected to miss the entire 2025-2026 season. The star point guard suffered a torn Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and has indicated that his recovery could take up to 15 months before he’s ready to return.
Nonetheless, how Coach Carlisle’s trust fueled Tyrese Haliburton’s historic 2025 postseason is a story of belief meeting opportunity. From day one, Carlisle handed Haliburton the keys — and the young guard delivered with record-setting performances, clutch plays, and poised leadership. It wasn’t just a breakout run; it was proof of what happens when a coach puts full faith in his star.
