While everyone is calling the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers playoff series a throwback, the animosity from their 90s rivalry remains.
It's not the same as Patrick Ewing’s Knicks against Reggie Millers’ Pacers anymore.
Now it's Jalen Brunson versus Tyrese Haliburton, who are opponents on the court but friends off it.
“He's a great player,” Brunson said of Haliburton after the Knicks’ Saturday practice. “We became friends last summer. Great guy, comes from a great family.
“I have a lot of respect for him and the way he plays. He just goes out there, plays the right way and does what he has to do.”
Brunson and Haliburton are forever connected by their Team USA experience in last year’s FIBA World Cup.
Friendly Competition
Despite last summer's discussion on who should have started for Team USA (Brunson ended up starting while Haliburton led the team in assists off the bench), they didn't pay attention to it.
But whether they like it or not, the rivalry is popular among NBA fans and their respective team’s supporters. It shows their rising popularity as two of the league’s young stars.
They are once again being debated on who is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference, with fans voting Haliburton as an NBA All-Star starter while Brunson earned a spot in the reserves chosen by the coaches.
When Haliburton was selected to play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics this summer, Brunson's and Knicks’ fans believed he should have also been chosen.
Brunson has no issues and looks forward to his friendly rivalry with Haliburton in this year’s playoffs.
Similar Journey, Different Styles
Their paths are connected because both Brunson and Haliburton were underestimated players who became All-Stars and leaders of their new teams.
Brunson was a successful college player but was overlooked in the draft and slipped to the second round. His former team, the Dallas Mavericks, also overlooked him by not giving him a max extension until it was too late, leading him to join the Knicks in free agency.
Haliburton was also disregarded in the NBA Draft and fell to the end of the lottery. Then the Sacramento Kings traded him to Indiana, where he excelled as the main player.
Both have similar paths to stardom but they have different playing styles.
Brunson is a strong point guard who enjoys dominating his opponents in the halfcourt with his fundamentally sound footwork. He is focused and seldom smiles on the court.
In the playoffs, Brunson led the Knicks offense by scoring and assisting more, averaging 35.5 points, 9.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds, up from his regular-season averages of 28.7 points, 6.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds.
On the other hand, Haliburton prefers the open court and excels with his flashy passes and impressive shooting. He always displays his bright smile and plays with unbridled joy on the court.
Haliburton didn't have to score as much as Brunson due to a more balanced Pacers team. He averaged 16.0 points, 9.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in six games against the injury-hit Milwaukee Bucks after averaging 20.1 points, 10.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds.
Whose style will prevail in the playoffs?
