As Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning jumper sealed the Pacers’ 111-110 comeback victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade erupted in disbelief on his livestream. The Hall of Famer leaped from his chair, sprinted across the room, and shouted, “Superstar! Superstar! Superstar!”-crowning Haliburton with a label debated all postseason. Wade’s raw reaction mirrored millions watching the shot with 0.3 seconds left, which gave Indiana its only lead of the night against the Thunder.
The shot marked Haliburton’s fourth game-tying or go-ahead basket in the final five seconds of a 2025 playoff game-an NBA postseason record 15. His icy composure defied a tumultuous night: He had just 14 points and committed 9 first-half turnovers, yet delivered when the Pacers erased a 15-point deficit. As Wade later emphasized, “When you’re out of rhythm… to take and make that shot? He’s cold. Allen Iverson would call him a cold motherf***er”.
Haliburton entered these playoffs stung by an anonymous NBA player poll naming him the league’s “most overrated” player. He weaponized the insult, tweeting “Overrate THAT” after a series-clinching layup against Milwaukee and shushing Cleveland fans who chanted “overrated” before his game-winning 3-pointer in Round 2. Teammate Myles Turner observed, “Tyrese searches out [criticism] because it fuels him” 6.
Haliburton’s playoff run (18.8 PPG, 9.8 APG) has redefined his value. Though his stats aren’t gaudy, his impact is seismic: He leads all postseason players in assists and shoots 86% on clutch shots in the final two minutes of games-the best mark since tracking began in 1996. His leadership galvanized a balanced Pacers squad that saw five players score 14+ points in Game 1, echoing their “team-first” identity.
Wade’s praise carries poetic weight. His Heat teams battled the Pacers in brutal playoff rivalries last decade, making his support for Indiana’s star a stunning pivot. On his “WY Network” podcast, Wade had already argued the Pacers were title threats, citing Haliburton’s “clutch gene”. After Game 1, he doubled down: “I’m buying a [Haliburton] jersey. I want it signed”
Indiana thrives as underdogs. They toppled Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York despite trailing by 7+ points in the final minute of three playoff wins-a feat only the 2014 Thunder matched 6. Haliburton credits their resilience to external slights: “Any doubt is good for me… The greats find external motivation”. Coach Rick Carlisle sees Reggie Miller’s spirit in him, noting Haliburton’s “iron will” and love for antagonizing hostile crowds.
At 25, Haliburton has led the Pacers to their first Finals since 2000. His response to the “overrated” tag-and Wade’s emphatic endorsement-cements his evolution from doubted All-Star to generational closer. As Wade declared: “If hitting game-winners in the Finals doesn’t make you a superstar, nothing does”. With three victories standing between Indiana and the title, Haliburton’s kid-dream-turned-manifesto rolls on.
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