Tyrese Haliburton has been the face of Indiana’s postseason magic. With the NBA Finals tied 2-2 and Game 5 unfolding on the road in Oklahoma City, all eyes were on the Pacers’ floor general. This was supposed to be his moment to take control and swing the momentum in Indiana’s favor.
Instead, he delivered silence. A scoreless first half, shaky, and minimal impact left fans stunned. The same fanbase that cheered his game-winners and dazzling assists throughout the playoffs suddenly found themselves watching in disbelief. Online, the mood shifted fast as praise turned to frustration, and the backlash came hard.
Fans Unleash Criticism as Tyrese Haliburton Goes Quiet in Game 5
In Game 5 of the NBA finals, which is a must-win if the Pacers want to regain control over the series, Haliburton looked far from the hero he’d been throughout the Pacers’ playoff run. He finished the first half with zero points, shooting 0-for-5 from the field and 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Haliburton had a -16 plus-minus and barely left a mark on the box score. For someone who’s averaged 18.6 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in the playoffs, it felt like a complete vanishing act.
Making things worse, Haliburton briefly exited in the first quarter, grabbing at his lower right leg before heading to the locker room. He returned with a wrap on his leg and checked back in midway through the second quarter. But his impact remained invisible.
The Paycom Center crowd roared for the Thunder, while online, a different kind of storm erupted as fans didn’t hold back.
“Stop telling me he’s a superstar. Superstars don’t do this,” one user posted, summing up the frustration many shared as Haliburton struggled to assert himself on the biggest stage.
Stop telling me he’s a superstar. superstars don’t do this
— Grizz Drip (@GrizzUnis) June 17, 2025
Another fan jabbed at a growing narrative, posting, “They said he was better than Luka,” mocking comparisons that circulated after Haliburton’s earlier playoff heroics.
That hype had built up when he hit a cold-blooded last-second shot against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which pushed the game to overtime. But now, with the Pacers coming off a fourth-quarter collapse in Game 4 and Haliburton going quiet in Game 5, the tone has changed.
They said he was better than Luka
— incognito tab #3 (@notcrypticno) June 17, 2025
“Bro does realize it’s the finals, right?” read another harsh comment.
Bro does realize it’s the finals right?
— (@Lebronin1) June 17, 2025
Haliburton’s recent string of clutch moments had many calling him the league’s next great point guard. But Game 5 told a different story, and fans weren’t letting it go.
“They really tried to act like this guy was the best point guard in the league a week ago,” one tweet read, reflecting the sudden shift in tone from praise to doubt.
They really tried to act like this guy was the best point guard in league a week ago
— Charlie Quinn (@CharlieQuinnMMA) June 17, 2025
His shooting slump and lack of aggression reminded some of a narrative that had just started to fade. About a month ago, in an anonymous player poll, Haliburton was voted the NBA’s most overrated player. That tag suddenly feels fresh again.
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“Glad to say a couple of Mickey game winners didn’t fool me. Not a superstar,” one user added, dismissing Haliburton’s past highlights as flukes.
They thought he was a superstar just because he hit a few lucky game winners
— blrrr (@blicktopready) June 17, 2025
It’s a tough fall for a player who’s been the engine of the Pacers’ offense. Alongside Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, Haliburton had orchestrated Indiana’s surprising Finals run. With the Thunder leading and the series hanging in the balance, the Pacers need their star to bounce back.
