Some Pacers fans said Sunday’s outcome was even more disappointing than a loss. “I expected to cry in either direction last night,” wrote Derek Kramer, “but not for it to start during the first quarter.”
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Another fan created a video that opens with Haliburton’s injury but then features all his playoff highlights. “[It’s] ok to cry because it’s over, but don’t forget to smile because it happened,” the caption reads.
Haliburton’s stellar playoff run came after he was voted “most overrated” in an anonymous April poll of NBA players. The point guard, known for his quiet on-court presence, later said, “I’m at my best when people are talking [badly] about me.”
Before heading to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he won gold with Team USA, Haliburton said the top essential he can’t live without is the Bible. “Over the last two years, my religion has become very important in my life,” he said last summer. God’s Word—and knowing he is made in God’s image—gives him peace, Haliburton added.
The athlete has also credited team chapel services with helping his faith journey. “That 15 to 20 minutes I get every day to step aside and talk about what really matters—which is my Lord and Savior—I think it’s very important for me,” Haliburton told Sports Spectrum. The chapel services also create a sense of community in the locker room, he said.
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. But the point guard is focusing on God and concluded a social media post about his injury with an encouraging message from Scripture.){kind=link}