Sacramento Kings: Tyrese Haliburton is already becoming a fan favorite

Step 3: Play hard for the Sacramento Kings

The third and final box to check on the way to becoming a fan favorite won’t come until next month and beyond.

The 2020-2021 season is looking like it’s going to be a rough one for Sacramento. Not only are they in the first steps of yet another rebuild, but the Western Conference is seemingly as stacked as ever. There is a higher likelihood of the Kings finishing in last place in the West than actually competing for a playoff spot, and they should have one of the better picks in the 2021 NBA Draft.

On-court expectations will be low, meaning that there will be little pressure for Haliburton to put up any kind of Rookie of the Year numbers. He can learn from De’Aaron Fox‘s lead and develop his game, but he’d better be ready to put on the hard hat when his number is called. Kings fans love a guy who “brings his lunch pail”, whose work ethic matches their affinity for blue-collar.

Haliburton’s game could be the perfect fit in Sacramento. He’s not going to be a superstar or break any scoring or assist records, but he has a high IQ and is known for doing all of the “little things”. His defensive abilities are constantly on display, and he plays a very smart style of basketball that will make the teammates around him better.

While it would be nice if he did, Tyrese Haliburton certainly doesn’t have to be a star to become loved by the city of Sacramento. Kings fans are pretty simple to please, and if you become a fan favorite, you’ll be embraced by the city through thick and thin. All you have to do is check three boxes, and Haliburton is well on the way to completing the trifecta.