Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton discusses his rise and goals in cover story for SLAM Magazine

Haliburton is the fourth Pacer to be a cover athlete for the magazine

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton recently joined a small group of talented basketball players who got to be cover athletes for SLAM Magazine.

Haliburton is the cover athlete for the 245th version of SLAM, which was announced last Thursday. "Oshkosh, Wisconsin to SLAM Magazine. Look at God!! Grateful for the opportunity @SLAMonline 💛," Haliburton tweeted later in the day.

Haliburton is the fourth Pacer to be alone on the cover of SLAM, joining Reggie Miller (one version of issue 33), Jermaine O'Neal (one version of issue 76), and Paul George (issue 174). 

Being the cover athlete also means that Haliburton got a cover story, which was written by Deyscha Smith. It discusses his rise to stardom in the NBA, how he is motivated on a day-to-day basis, and a behind the scenes look at his mood during the SLAM photoshoot.

"I haven't had a winning season in, like, four years dating back to college, so that’s just where I want to get to," Haliburton told Smith. That echoes his comments from much of the offseason, including right after signing his five-year, $260 million contract extension.

The story also offers more details about how Haliburton got connected with his trainer, Drew Hanlen, and how his growth has connected him with the city of Indianapolis. He has been vital to the Pacers' improvements both on the court and in popularity.

"I just want to be the best that I can and squeeze every bit of God given ability that I have [out]. Squeeze it all out before I'm done playing," Haliburton told Smith. The entire story can be read here.

Haliburton is the face of the franchise in Indiana, and he is becoming one of the more popular names in the NBA. His blend of shooting and passing is rare in the league. Now, he is on the cover of one of the World's most popular basketball magazines and is about to earn tens of millions of dollars per year. He is nearly a household name, and he knows that winning needs to come next.

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