NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 17, 2024

Tyrese Haliburton

Eastern Conference

Media Day Press Conference

Q. What has it been like for you to go through this weekend and be around so many legends who have shown you so much respect? This is stuff you dream about, I'd imagine.

TYRESE HALIBURTON: It means the world. It means the world. I think the respect that I've gained from my peers and legends means the world to me. Just to keep meeting people where I'm from, that's not really a thing. There's no chance that they even know where Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is.

So it means the world to me. I just want to continue to keep doing what I'm doing and gaining people's respect.

Q. Obviously you played a ton of basketball last summer. You were having a great year this year. Then you're going through what you're going through with the leg or you went through with the leg. Does all that make you rethink next summer, this coming summer, or if they call, are you still hoping to be in Paris? I know a lot can change between now and then.

TYRESE HALIBURTON: No change. My goal is to play for USA until the wheels fall off. If I get that call to go, I'll be there.

Q. Tyrese, obviously we've seen LeBron be the face of the league now for virtually a generation, 20th All-Star Game this year. As he's obviously nearing the end, at least eventually, of his career, as the league moves forward, who do you see taking that mantle on to be the face of the league? Is that something you've thought about yourself?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: I don't really get into that. That's something that you guys decide as media members.

I think we got a lot of different guys that it could be. The league is in great hands. It's the most talent that has even been in this league. There's a lot of different guys it could be. We'll see. To be the face of the league, winning has to come with that. Whatever young guy takes that charge and is winning moving forward, that's probably who it will be. Yeah, that's not for us to decide.

Q. Just piggy-backing off of the Olympic question, what are you most excited about the Olympics, and what does it mean to you to represent your country?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: Well, I'm not on the team yet. If I were on the team, it would mean the world to me. Obviously I had a lot of fun with Team USA last year, and we didn't get the result we wanted. To be part of the team this year and have a chance at a little bit of revenge or a little bit of get-back, that would mean the world.

I think, as a kid who grew up in the 2000s, I always wanted to play for Team USA after watching the Redeem Team with LeBron and those guys. And watching D-Wade's doc for them on Netflix, and I was at the premiere with D-Wade. It would mean a lot moving forward.

Q. Two-part question. I talked to Myles. He said you guys are both a lock for the Skills contest and you for the 3-Point Contest. What's your mindset going into both of those events, and what are you most excited for tonight?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: Going into the Skills contest, I have no idea what that entails. Looking forward to finding that out. I do think what we have over people is chemistry because we're all together all the time.

3-Point Contest, just don't choke. Last year I had a legendary first round, and then I think I got iced a little bit. That might be the reason. But I was terrible the second round. Just some consistency this year, and hopefully I can pull off the W.

Q. Obviously you're big into fashion. Who would you say around the league, like top three best styles around the league?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: That's a good question. I'm going to say myself, number one, of course. Then I'd probably say Shai and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker). I like their style, for sure.

Q. Ty, what have your last 72 hours been like? One, how busy has it been? What are the coolest things you've done? And what was it like, I guess, at the end of last night, to be able to chill and watch a game for a little while with your dad before you went on the broadcast?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: It's been a zoo. It's been a lot, but it's been a lot of fun. I've been told I'm kind of like the prom king of the weekend, so just doing whatever I'm asked to do.

Coolest thing I've done? That's a good question. The IndyCar was cool. I'm trying to think. I don't know. I don't know. I did the little 2K League thing yesterday and was with Tyrese Maxey and some other 2K League guys. That was fun because I've always grown up playing the game. There's a lot of YouTubers there that I grew up watching, so it was cool to see those guys for, sure.

Q. Your journey with Isaac Yacob, could you kind of talk about how you guys hit it off in Sacramento and what it's been like, that bond, and then him obviously coming with you here?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: Wow, that's a great question. I'm glad I get to plug I.Y. a little bit, give him some love. Me and I.Y. hit it off right when I was in Sac, and we grew our relationship there pretty quickly. Obviously I got traded here. He was able to join me here.

We spent a lot of time together. This is his first time living outside of California, so there's a lot of trust that he's put into me and my future and this organization's future to move here. I'm excited that he's here, and we're very, very close.

Thankful he's in my life, and thankful that I have him, that I can call him a brother, but also someone whose basketball opinion I trust more than a lot of people.

Q. And I see that on the bench, he's there with the iPad doing stuff with you. You guys continuing, you want to bring guys to Indy. You want to be the best version yourself. How critical is he for helping evolve your game and your offense in general?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: Very critical. When I get compliments from him, it means a lot because I don't get them often. He's like my mom. Yeah, I'm always -- especially a play or if I mess up or somebody else messes up, I can quickly ask him to pull up the iPad and give me a look. You see a lot of times that I have the computer or something on the bench just showing guys just because he gets it to me pretty quickly.

I know our minds are usually on the same wavelength, so that helps a lot.

Q. This season you started a WeChat channel for Chinese social media and racked up a pretty good social media influence in the Chinese market. Is there anything you want to say to the Chinese fans who have been supporting you throughout the journey and also just for the All-Star Game?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: I appreciate the love. It's super cool to be on Chinese social, interacting with fans. That means a lot to me. So I appreciate that. I feel like that has a lot to do with me being first in fan votes. I know people see a player in Indiana and don't expect that, but the love I've received from my fans in China has been amazing.

Q. Tyrese, we're asking all the All-Stars what you think is the most ridiculous basketball scene in a movie or TV show.

TYRESE HALIBURTON: Like bad or good?

Q. Bad. Let's go bad.

TYRESE HALIBURTON: I'm trying to think. What comes to mind? Have you ever seen that commercial where the dude goes to the ref and says like, Coach, I touched this, their ball, and then the ref switches the call? Terrible. I don't know what brand that was, but that was awful.

Q. Also, Anthony Edwards says he would 100 percent play Troy Bolton in a "High School Musical" remake. Would you be at that premiere?

TYRESE HALIBURTON: For sure. I'll be Chad. I'll be the sidekick. Me and Ant, if Disney wants to rock with us, we'd be down. We could do it.