Why Tyrese Haliburton reached out to a WNBA Hall of Famer for basketball tips

The 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals have been thrilling for the Indiana Pacers, and their star Tyrese Haliburton has been on the rise for years. And as an Olympic Gold medalist (yes, even if he didn’t play much) and a No. 1 option for a team on their way to the NBA Finals, it’s no surprise that Haliburton has been soaking in advice from the greatest of the sport.

That list of mentors includes legendary Seattle Storm guard and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Sue Bird.

In a recent interview with Taylor Rooks to promote her new women’s basketball podcast with Vox Media, Bird’s Eye View, Bird talked about Haliburton reaching out to her for advice ahead of the NBA Playoffs. He asked her about striking the balance between when to facilitate shots for teammates and when to take the shot yourself. Bird commented that he’s already found that line — Haliburton has been a big part of the Pacers defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and (likely) soon the New York Knicks.

Most recently in this series against New York, Haliburton is averaging 24.3 points per game, while also dishing 11 assists per contest. Clearly, he took Bird’s advice to heart.

So what did Bird, who will be inducted into the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame along with Maya Moore and others, tell him? First, Bird knows that as a player, you won’t be performing at 100% all the time. Learning how to ride those low points, not letting them throw you off, and just letting the game come back to you is important. In a career spanning nearly two decades, Bird was part of four WNBA Championship teams with the Storm; yet, that also means she was on 15 losing teams.

According to further comments from Rooks on her X account, she said that Bird told Haliburton to “trust himself.” To not let his high basketball IQ overcomplicate what the game was naturally giving to him over a long playoff series.

It’s hard playing the same team over and over again — you have SO much time to scout and plan for your opponent. They know exactly how you play, so going to your usual weapons is not always going to work. Bird’s advice helped Haliburton be aggressive in moments when his opponents thought he would be predictable.

Haliburton and the Pacers’ great performance aside, a young player speaking to greats like Bird will only help his game be more well-rounded. The WNBA has a reputation for providing a very fundamentals-focused style of basketball compared to the fast, flashy, and sometimes chaotic brand the NBA has created. Speaking to someone like Sue, whose game Haliburton’s has been compared to over his career and who has such a grasp on fundamentals as a Hall of Fame level point guard, is smart.

There’s also a cloud of sexism and misogyny at times when it comes to comparing great women’s and men’s basketball players. Of course, it’s tired to constantly have to come up with a male comparison to every great WNBA player, but genuine moments like this — where it’s more about the love of the game, getting better at your craft, and creating moments of mentorship and community — are more feel-good than problematic.

The Pacers’ star is well known for his support of the WNBA as well, as a regular attendee of Indiana Fever games. He has built a friendship with Fever star Caitlin Clark, as well as many other WNBA players. It doesn’t seem as performative as some NBA collaborations with the WNBA can feel, as Haliburton clearly has a genuine interest and knowledge about the WNBA and what’s happening in the league from a fan perspective.

Haliburton is on track to have a career like Bird’s as well — NBA Championships, Olympic medals, assist records and maybe even a Hall of Fame induction one day. It’s fun for fans to see these connections happen between basketball greats, and it seems to be working out well for Haliburton as his Pacers hope to clinch their spot in the NBA Finals as soon as tonight.