Many in the NBA world were shocked by the news of Tyrese Haliburton’s trade to the Indiana Pacers, but nobody may have been as shocked as Haliburton himself.
Haliburton joined ESPN’s “The Jump” on Thursday to discuss the trade, and he admitted he was left shocked by the move, enough to the point where he said at first he thought it “was a joke.”
Haliburton was part of a trade deadline deal between the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers that sent Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson to the Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and a 2023 second-round pick.
Thompson has since been released by the Pacers and will sign with the Chicago Bulls.
While Haliburton was shocked by the trade, initial returns have been positive. Through his first four games, Haliburton is averaging 20.8 points, 11.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game compared to his averages of 14.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while with the Kings.
Haliburton also managed to snag his first win in a Pacers jersey on Wednesday night, dropping 21 points, 14 assists, and five rebounds in a 113-108 win over the Washington Wizards.
The Pacers are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-40.
