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3x NBA All-Star drops bombshell comparison: Tyrese Haliburton is the next Steph Curry?

Posted on May 30, 2025 - 9:18 am by

The Eastern Conference Finals have sparked heated debates about Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s status in the NBA. Is he a superstar? Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas took the conversation to new heights on his show Gil’s Arena, comparing Haliburton to Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry and suggesting he could become the next face of the NBA.

Arenas highlighted Haliburton’s charisma and playing style as key factors. “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.”

Unlike many NBA superstars, Haliburton’s rise was not predestined. A three-star recruit out of high school, he wasn’t a highly touted prospect. “He wasn’t ranked growing up. That’s how it works,” Arenas explained. “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 journey to stardom began when he was selected No. 13 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2020 NBA Draft, following a sophomore season at Iowa State where he averaged 15.2 points per game. In February 2022, the Kings traded him to the Pacers, a move that proved transformative. Since joining Indiana, Haliburton has earned two All-NBA selections and has led the Pacers to the brink of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.

Arenas’ bold comparison underscores Haliburton’s unique blend of skill, personality, and potential. While he may not have been a household name in his youth, his rapid ascent and magnetic presence suggest he could follow in Curry’s footsteps, captivating fans and redefining the NBA’s future.