What Did Tyrese Haliburton Say About Pascal Siakam?

Over the last few days, the topic of NBA players being overrated has gained the attention of the Indiana Pacers, specifically Tyrese Haliburton and Rick Carlisle. However, in the face of negativity, and after the Game 2, 123-115 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Pacers' Pascal Siakam received the ultimate praise from Haliburton.

The Athletic published an anonymous NBA player poll with one topic dominating the internet: most overrated player. 

Haliburton took the infamous title, with Carlisle responding accordingly. The Pacers point guard briefly responded to such a label given to him by his NBA peers, but didn't take long to focus on his All-Star teammate, Siakam. 

Through two games in the 2025 NBA playoffs, Siakam is averaging 25.5 points on 58 percent shooting from the field, 50 percent from 3, and 100 percent from the charity stripe. Despite Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominant 35 points in the same allotted span, Siakam has the wins and efficiency that top the two-time NBA MVP regarding who's the better player in the series so far.

In light of Siakam's past two games and, more importantly, his overall production since becoming a member of the Pacers, Haliburton called the 2025 All-Star "possibly the most underrated player in the NBA."

Although Siakam lacks the athleticism of his positional counterparts, his poise, footwork, and overall efficiency provide advantages that opposing players often fail to match. 

Without Siakam in the Pacers' lineup, it's plausible to believe the Bucks could be up 2-0, or at least tied 1-1 in the opening series. Haliburton, as the most popular player on the team and an Olympic gold medalist, understands the gravity of Siakam's presence on and off the court. 

While people may throw stones at Haliburton, they don't underestimate the heart of an NBA champion, which Siakam has displayed since joining the Pacers.