Tyrese Haliburton and the Kings Are the Perfect Unlikely Marriage

Everyone has that one friend they want to see succeed. That friend that walks over their own feet at the next step of success. They get involved with some less than intelligent people and some toxic relationships. Well, that’s been what most of the Sacramento Kings fans have felt over the past 2 decades. Hell, I’ve felt like that just being a fan of the NBA. I’ve always felt myself rooting for them due to just how miserable they’ve been. From the Kevin Martin days to the short semi-hopeful DeMarcus Cousins days, I’ve been hoping for them to turn the corner somehow. It felt like they were just about to get there after a not-so-terrible season in 2018-19 when the team finished 39-43. De’Aaron Fox was doing quick and fun things! Marvin Bagley was an exciting rookie! Bjelica, Hield, and Bogdanovic were getting better! They had a competent coach! Corey Brewer was there! But in a very “KANGZ” way, they decided to fire the coach and bring in…Luke Walton? It was indeed a strategy that occurred. The team would soon regress and finish 31-41 in another year of disappointment. Much like Hayley Williams, it seemed Vlade Divac was in the business of misery and wanted to make sure to keep it that way.

After another season of the Real Kings of Sacramento, it stood to reason that the draft prospects who were looking to enter the NBA the following season would want to stay as far away as they could. But a young, hungry, and determined guard from Iowa State named Tyrese Haliburton was up for the challenge of fixing this broken team and fanbase. Seen by many as the most NBA-ready prospect on the board, he not only welcomed going to Sacramento but openly stated he felt it was the perfect place for him to land. To add to that, Haliburton’s camp reportedly even did what it could to persuade other teams from drafting him so he could land in Sacramento. It was such a strange turn of events for a franchise that had never been on the top of many players’ free-agent list, let alone draft list. It was the handsome, well-mannered, and successful bachelor or bachelorette in the rom-com who just wanted the world to see the beauty he saw in the off-putting single person who could never find the one to settle down with. After being drafted, Haliburton said in his Zoom conference, “Sacramento is a place that I wanted to be, and here I am, and I’m really ecstatic about it. It’s really exciting for me and my family. I can’t wait to get started, and like I’ve mentioned before, I feel like this is the perfect fit for me, and I love it here.” You could almost hear Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ begin to play as he heard his name being called on draft night.

Now Tyrese is playing like one of the best rookies in his class. Playing the game with the ease and poise of a 10-year veteran. He always seems to be in the right place and making the right decisions. He never looks like he’s rushing through a process, but going at the right speed in a road many rookies seem to falter at. It’s awe-inspiring when you remember the shortened training camp and lack of Summer League he and all the rookies missed out on.

Take a look below at how he controls the pick and roll and doesn’t go too fast or too slow waiting for the right moment to attack. As soon as he turns that corner and lets the help defenders clear, he makes the read and tosses a perfect lob to Richaun Holmes. That’s the type of patience you see out of guys like DJ Augustin or Andre Miller in the past.

In this play, the Kings are coming off a Raptors turnover and pushing the ball quickly, something they should do more. Haliburton catches the ball on the run and doesn’t panic as so many young players would. He stays balanced and gives a pump fake to Boucher, who flies by and leaves Haliburton on the wing. Flynn tries reading the pass that Haliburton could have made to Joseph, but instead, Haliburton sees him sitting on it and decides to fake the pass and put up a beautiful, if unorthodox, swish from downtown. Most players would’ve telegraphed that pass to Joseph and likely have had a turnover or at the very least a deflection that messes up the semi-transition opportunity.

Here’s more of an example of how Haliburton’s jumper seems to be translating quite well to the next level, not to mention the poise of hitting it under duress and at the end of a shot clock. Many doubted the shot would do as well as it has as he’s shooting 18-34 from 3 early so far this season. The swish is so clean I wasn’t even sure if it went in at all.

Haliburton is bringing something of a calming presence any time he steps on the court. It’s akin to how old Memphis Grizzlies teams would feel when Shane Battier would be on the court. Or the way any team that has Robert Covington feels. Rookies shouldn’t be doing this. I’m not saying he’s as good as those guys, but he brings the similar energy that they brought when stepping on the floor. But in some weird way, it makes sense that he’s doing it on the Kings, a team that has tried bringing in old veterans to fill that role to varying success. From the lumbering but aged Zach Randolph to the disgruntled George Hill and the semi-successful Vince Carter stint. Now they’ve found that sort of player, and it’s come in the form of a building block instead of an old vet wandering around the league. Or, to put it more adequately, he found them.

Haliburton is going to try to help lead them, along with his star wingmate in De’Aaron Fox. He won’t rush to dethrone anyone on the team of their minutes. He’s going to bide his time until the staff has no choice but to start him. Like Bam Adebayo playing behind Hassan Whiteside in his early years of Miami, it’s only a matter of time. The Kings won’t turn their fortune completely around this season, and with this staff still employed, I wouldn’t expect them to. But you finally have another pillar for the future — don’t mess it up. Sacramento fans are already in love with the kid, and it’s easy to see why. While I don’t think he’ll ever be an All-Star type of player (he could prove me wrong on that) but he doesn’t need to be. His current trajectory is fine enough for a player selected in his slot in what is considered a weaker draft. And I don’t think the team expects that much either. I implore Kings fans to enjoy their newly unearthed gem and the ride that will ensue. He plays the game with the joy you want from all your players, all while never looking overwhelmed. How did this kid end up wanting you, Sacramento? Don’t question it; make sure you don’t mess it up. You’ve found the one for you, and he was out there searching for you the whole time. He somehow saw promise in you, don’t let him down in this partnership.