Never discount Paul George’s possible return to the Indiana Pacers as an NBA superstar. The Clippers superstar appears to be highly intrigued by the impressive performance of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton this season. Haliburton has been a key player for the Pacers, and his style of play is truly captivating and enjoyable to watch.
Watching Haliburton’s rise in the league along with the Pacers, eight-time All-Star Paul George has given the idea of returning to his first team a strong thought.
Emergence of Tyrese Haliburton as NBA superstar
Tyrese Haliburton’s rise to the top in the NBA has been more than phenomenal.
With his energetic plays and charismatic performances, there is no doubt that the youngster has ignited a sense of belief in the Indiana Pacers franchise, giving them instances to cheer for and to be joyful about.
Drafted in 2020 by the Sacramento Kings, Haliburton made a name for himself by running the floor for the Kings and dominating the opposition with almost no struggle. However, the presence of De’Aaron Fox restricted Haliburton from unleashing his true identity. For the Kings, Tyrese averaged 13.6 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Later, in 2022, Tyrese Haliburton was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a move that essentially gave him the reins to the entire franchise. Once Tyrese got his groove going, which didn’t take long, the young prodigy never took a step back, annihilating defenders with his ruthless stepbacks and vicious handles. Apart from improving and elevating his performances, Haliburton has effectively revitalized his teammates to increase their output on the basketball court.
In his time with the Pacers, Haliburton has significantly improved his performances, and this is visible just by looking at his averages. In three seasons for Indiana, the star is averaging 20.8 points per game and 10.8 assists per game, an increase of +7 and +4 respectively, in the categories mentioned. His massive rise to superstardom hasn’t gone unnoticed by other NBA superstars, namely former Pacers star Paul George, who is ‘intrigued’ by the idea of playing alongside the young prodigy.
George explores idea of forming potential duo
Paul George is no outsider to the Indiana Pacers.
Drafted in 2010 by the Indiana Pacers, George was nothing short of a superstar in his years with the team. In his seven seasons with the team, Paul George led the team to great heights, averaging 18.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 6.3 rebounds while playing over 448 games for the Eastern Conference side. Now, seeing Haliburton’s success with the side, Paul George may consider making a move to continue his history with the organization.
According to senior NBA writer Jake Fischer, Paul George is reportedly ‘intrigued’ by Haliburton’s success. Fischer wrote, “They were intrigued, from my understanding, about the idea of playing together.”
However, the prospect of the two stars uniting seems far from likely, with George in the last year of his four-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, eyeing an extension with an eligible player option. With both players performing impeccably well, the thought of departure is not a thought that comes to mind, especially with the Clippers looking like one of the scariest teams in the West this season.
While the Pacers view their first sights of success through Haliburton, the Clippers seem to be in a commanding position for the NBA championship with their star-studded core consisting of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook. However, a possibility could occur if circumstances change drastically. As it stands, the potential of a Tyrese Haliburton-Paul George duo at the Indiana Pacers is not as high as the Pacers’ faithful would’ve hoped.
What do you think of a Paul George-Tyrese Haliburton partnership? Do you think George will make a return to the Pacers? We are eager to know your thoughts on a potential Paul George homecoming, so feel free to comment below.
