Warriors’ Passing On Tyrese Haliburton in NBA Draft Still Haunts Bob Myers

The Indiana Pacers guard certainly made a lasting impression on the former Warriors general manager and current ESPN analyst.

Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton has quickly made a name for himself in four NBA seasons, an impressive rise that, evidently, still has former Warriors general manager Bob Myers wondering if he made the right decision.

Back in 2020, Myers was part of the collective that drafted now-Pistons center James Wiseman No. 2 overall over the likes of Haliburton and Hornets star LaMelo Ball. Fast forward four years later, and Myers, now an analyst on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, sounds as though passing on the Indiana guard was a move that continues to haunt him to this day.

Myers strongly indicated as much on Thursday ahead of the Pacers-Bucks in-season tournament semifinal matchup in Las Vegas, when the former GM spoke highly of Haliburton’s game and leadership while reflecting on his workout with Golden State.

“What bothers me more than anything was, his workout was good. When we met with him after, I should have known then because, of who he is as a person and as a leader,” Myers admitted. “Because you meet with people, you talk to them, [but] that conversation left a mark because of how smart he is and how confident. It’s not fake, it’s not arrogant, it’s confidence.”

“So, when you talk about players wanting to play with him, that’s real because he’s a great player. He’s showing us now he’s a great player and this is a fantastic stage for him.”

As the No. 12 pick by the Kings in the 2020 draft, whiffing on predicting Haliburton’s ascension to becoming one of the NBA’s best young stars is not a decision Myers bears alone. But clearly, if given the chance for a do-over, Myers would warn his old team, and possibly Sacramento, not to look past the 23-year-old sensation.

With all eyes on Thursday’s anticipated IST contest, Myers also won’t be alone in basking in the glory that has been Haliburton’s second year in Indy thus far.

In 17 games this season, Haliburton, who was traded in a blockbuster deal for Domantas Sabonis in February 2022, has shined for the sixth-place Pacers, averaging a career-high 26.9 points and 11.9 assists per game on 52.1/44.7/88.1 splits.

Bob Myers on the Warriors not drafting Tyrese Haliburton back in 2020: pic.twitter.com/Lp6qrwcAN6

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) December 7, 2023