The latest yearly addition of The Athletic‘s anonymous NBA players surveys went live this week, and there are plenty of interesting stories and name placements to choose from. One of those interesting name placements can be found on the poll of the most overrated players, of which familiar participants like Rudy Gobert and Trae Young can be found. At the top of the list is Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who was voted the most overrated player across the league. Haliburton garnered 13 out of 90 votes (14.4 % of votes). The polls and voting aside, Haliburton isn’t putting any stock into what 13 of his NBA peers think of him. Instead, his focus is on the more important things the NBA offers, not anonymous surveys.
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Unfazed by Latest NBA Surveys
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton cares more for his teammates than being labeled overrated
There’s no question that Haliburton is a rising star in the league. To further that point, he made the final cut of Team USA’s Paris Olympic squad—a gold-winning squad. How many of the 13 players who voted Haliburton the most overrated player came close to an Olympic selection? Tragically, we’ll likely never know. Haliburton also led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals last year and are two games shy of bouncing the Milwaukee Bucks out of round one. Interestingly, Haliburton was also on the overrated list last season but had just 3.7% of the votes. So, at some point, between the conference finals, the Olympic team selection, and the fourth-place seed in the East this year, Haliburton became more overrated.
It’s interesting and fun to wonder what made Haliburton this year’s number-one vote-getter. Unless you’re Haliburton, and in that case, who cares? He doesn’t. According to The Athletic‘s James Boyd, the two-time All-Star isn’t concerned about the polls and his placement in them, only the Pacers.
“I must be doing something right if that’s the case,” Haliburton said. “I don’t have a big speech or comment on it. All I care about is this locker room and winning games, and we’re in position to go to Milwaukee and continue this series on. … I know who I am. I’m confident in my own skin and not worried what anybody thinks.”
A star on a rise, even if an overrated one
The poll concerning the league’s most overrated players is more absurd than anything. Mass delusion is at play when Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo make the list with even a single vote. Haliburton is a star and could be a superstar soon. His head coach, Rick Carlisle, had his own reaction to the poll. He took the opportunity to take the survey, lambast it, call for heads, toss it into the toilet, and flush with angst.
“I heard about this and the other guys on the list were Jimmy Butler and Giannis,” Carlisle said. “I want to see the guys’ faces that voted those guys. … This is a bull—t poll. Not everybody even answered in the poll. Guys were able to answer if they wanted to. They were asked on camera or with a microphone. The whole thing’s bull—t, OK? And it’s really a shameful thing.”
Rick Carlisle just went OFF on the anonymous player poll that had Tyrese Haliburton as the most overrated player in the league.
“I want to see the faces of those guys.” pic.twitter.com/0ATomGu9Za
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) April 23, 2025
Again, you have to wonder who the 13 voters were (and the 90 overall). Nevertheless, Carlisle stepping up for his player is true coaching at its best. Suppose Haliburton leads Indiana to another conference finals this year. Is there a spot above the first spot on the poll? That’s where he would likely be next year.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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