NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year
Tyrese Haliburton. 12. player. 84. . SG. Sacramento Kings
NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year: 12. Tyrese Haliburton
Stats
- 13 points
- 5.3 assists
- 40.9 percent from three
Tyrese Haliburton was an all-around very good player during his time at Iowa State. Numbers that consisted of 15.2 points, 6.5 steals, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals were great to look at but Iowa State was never in the title hunt.
Still, with the 12th overall pick, the Sacramento Kings were hoping that he could replicate those numbers, at least to a certain degree, for their squad. They were right.
Before a knee injury knocked him out for the final seven games of the season, fans were presently surprised with what he was able to do. He averaged 13 points and 5.3 assists. Haliburton shows a game that is much more controlled than his birth certificate would indicate. He was seemingly never in a rush and didn’t take bad shots. That much is clear as he connected on 47.2 percent of his attempts from the field and 40.9 from three.
Until his late-season injury, Haliburton was right up there with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards for Rookie of the Year. This phrase isn’t said very often for the Sacramento Kings but their front office got this pick absolutely right.
Grade: A-