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Shocking NBA take: A 3-time All-Star says Haliburton mirrors Curry’s rise—are we witnessing history?

Posted on May 30, 2025 - 9:16 am by

The Eastern Conference Finals have sparked intense debate about whether Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton has reached superstar status. However, three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has taken the conversation to another level on his show Gil’s Arena, drawing a bold comparison between Haliburton and Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry while suggesting Haliburton could become the next face of the NBA.

Arenas highlighted Haliburton’s charisma and playing style as key factors in his potential rise to superstardom. “Listening to him talk, he’s an attractive guy,” Arenas said. “He seems funny. He has a fast-paced style. He’s going to have to be like Curry. One of those years where all the celebrities are like, ‘Oh’, that’s how he becomes it because he wasn’t that growing up.”

Arenas emphasized that unlike traditional superstars such as Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, who were heralded as prodigies early in their careers, Haliburton’s journey mirrors Curry’s unconventional path. “He wasn’t ranked growing up,” Arenas noted. “That’s how it works. If you think about superstars, Kobe was a superstar in high school. If the kids don’t look at it and say, ‘Oh, I want to be like that’, then it doesn’t matter. Our stars that built this NBA, they did it both. Magic has it all. Michael Jordan has it all. Winning takes it to another level, but the personality is what starts it.”

Haliburton’s rise has been anything but typical. A three-star recruit out of high school, he was selected No. 13 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2020 NBA Draft after averaging 15.2 points per game during his sophomore season at Iowa State. In February 2022, the Kings traded Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers, a move that has proven transformative for both the player and the franchise.

Since joining the Pacers, Haliburton has emerged as a cornerstone, earning All-NBA honors twice and leading Indiana to the brink of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. His fast-paced, dynamic style and engaging personality have drawn comparisons to Curry, whose own rise from an unheralded prospect to a global icon redefined the modern NBA.

As Haliburton continues to shine on the playoff stage, Arenas’ bold prediction raises a tantalizing question: Are we witnessing the birth of the NBA’s next great superstar? Only time will tell if Haliburton can follow in Curry’s footsteps and become the face of the league.