Tyrese Haliburton isn’t worried about the fit with Ivica Zubac, even if the two haven’t spent any real time together on the court this offseason.
During a rare media session on Wednesday, Haliburton took questions about his health, the offseason, and where things stand with the Pacers moving forward. When Tony East of Circle City Spin and Forbes asked about Zubac, Haliburton was straightforward about the lack of offseason work together: "I have had zero court time with Zu."
Still, the two-time All-NBA guard said that doesn’t register as a concern for him. "I don't think that's a concern, I really don't."
Haliburton expects Zubac to rejoin the group once he returns from playing with his country in September, around the same time other teammates typically begin making their way back to Indiana. "He'll get back out here after playing with his country in September, which is when we all typically start to come in."
What gives Haliburton confidence is Zubac’s feel for the game and the chance to figure things out once the team gets into five-on-five work. "I really don't have a concern cause he's very smart. The more time we get to experiment when we're playing five-on-five, I'll probably make sure he's on my team every single time."
He also acknowledged that the adjustment is real for him, even if it isn’t something he sees as a problem. "Everybody else I pretty much know how to play with at this point, but there is going to be a transition period for me. The last time I played, I was able to play with a guy who could really space the floor at the five, but I've never played with a screen setter like this (or) a roller like this."
Haliburton’s point was clear: this will be different. The last big he was used to playing with in that kind of role was Myles Turner, a floor-spacing center. Before that, in his first year and a half with the Sacramento Kings, Richaun Holmes was the starting center, a big known for running the floor and playing above the rim.
Zubac fits more in that Holmes mold than Turner’s, but Haliburton’s track record suggests the learning curve may not be nearly as steep as it looks on paper. He and Turner found a way to click quickly despite the shift in style, and Haliburton sounded just as certain this pairing will work.
The bottom line from Haliburton: no panic, no hesitation, and no doubt about how it will come together with Big Zu.
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