Tyrese Haliburton has stopped measuring respect by the loudest voices in the room.
After a devastating Achilles injury, the Indiana Pacers star says the gestures that matter most have come from the people he already values - and Kevin Durant gave him one that stuck.
On Boardroom Talks with Speedy Morman, Haliburton said the way people reached out after his injury changed how he thinks about the word “respect.” Plenty of messages came in, but a few people went well beyond checking a box.
"That's what I really value and what I really care about from people that I love and I respect," Haliburton said. "That's what matters to me."
Durant, Haliburton said, was already headed to Indianapolis for All-Star festivities but made a point to get there early so he could see him at home.
"When I got hurt, KD flew to Indy to visit me," Haliburton said. "He was out there for All-Star, but he came early to come see me.
Came to my crib. He was chilling with my dog, throwing the toy with my dog, like, to check on me."
"I was like, 'Okay, he's forever. We forever cool."
That wasn’t the only star touchpoint Haliburton described. He said Steph Curry and LeBron James both called to check on him, with James also reaching out when Haliburton was dealing with shingles. During Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals, James sent him numerous voice messages as well.
Haliburton said those relationships have helped quiet the old debate about whether he gets the respect he deserves.
"I don't know if, as a competitor, do I feel like I'll ever get the respect that I deserve? Probably not," Haliburton said.
Still, he’s clear-eyed about what comes next. His career won’t last forever, and when the time comes, people will pick apart his legacy and argue over different parts of his game.
But Haliburton grew up looking up to Durant, Curry and James, calling them the "big three" of his generation. That makes their approval mean more than whatever outsiders might say.
"If those guys respect me, I don't give a sh*t shat anybody else thinks," Haliburton said.
For Haliburton, the definition of respect has shifted. It’s no longer about universal praise. It’s about who shows up when the game disappears.
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