Ever since Tyrese Haliburton slipped to the 12th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he hasn’t really done much that drew attention. The Kings had an overdose of guards that overshadowed him, and Haliburton just didn’t look like a good fit. Understanding the situation they had on their hands, Sacramento dealt Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers.
From that point on, Haliburton has been the centerpiece of Indiana’s rebuild. In 26 games with his new team, he posted borderline All-Star numbers, and saw a dramatic increase in nearly every stat:
| 2020-2021 Kings | 2021-2022 Kings | 2022 Pacers | |
| PPG | 13.0 | 14.3 | 17.5 |
| APG | 5.3 | 7.4 | 9.6 |
| SPG | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
When the Pacers decided to let Malcom Brogdon walk, it was crystal clear that they wanted Haliburton to be the heartbeat of the team. In the small sample of games last season, he showed that he was more than ready for the challenge.
The Pacers have given Haliburton the green light to dominate, and the Kings might regret their decision to trade him for years to come.
643 miles to the east lives another Tyrese. Tyrese Maxey, the late first round pick drafted the same year as Haliburton. He has a different story though, and we will start with the Sixers drafting him.
Coming into the 2020 Draft, Maxey was projected to be a mid-first round pick, because of his finishing prowess and passing abilities. He was drafted by Philadelphia, and had to prove his worth during his spot minutes in his rookie season.
He did just that, and he was rewarded last season by playing 20 more minutes each game. His scoring average more than doubled, and he connected on his threes more often, at a clip of 42.7%. It didn’t just stop there.
With the arrival of James Harden, he soared to even greater heights. With Harden running the show, Maxey was able to get better looks, increasing his field goal percentage, making shots more often than not. The ball went through the net half of the time when he released it behind the arc. It can’t get any better, right?
Wrong. In the 2022 Playoffs, Maxey played like his hair was on fire, averaging more points than Harden. He stepped up his game, trying to make up for the talent they lost because Joel Embiid was hampered by injuries. Unfortunately, the Sixers didn’t get past the second round, falling short to the first seeded Heat.
Maxey’s combination of speed, quickness, and strength makes him a unique player. From a mid-first round pick with limited minutes in his inaugural season, to now, obliterating defensive schemes for an easy bucket, Maxey has limitless potential.
Two years previously, when both Tyrese’s were drafted, the volcano was calm and quiet. Now, it’s ready to explode, and Haliburton and Maxey are too.