Tyrese Haliburton heard his name called 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Iowa State standout slipped out of the top 10 despite flashing impressive playmaking ability and a lethal perimeter shot.
After being traded to the Indiana Pacers, the two-time All-Star was key to their 2025 NBA Finals run, which ended in heartbreak.
In a recent podcast, Haliburton pulled back the curtain on the pre-draft evaluation process, eliciting widespread shock with his comments.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Golden State Revelation Generates Shock Across NBA World
Speaking on the “Numbers on the Board” podcast, Haliburton revealed that his most impressive workout came courtesy of the Golden State Warriors, who held the second overall pick in the 2020 Draft.
“My Golden State workout, that was the best workout of my life,” Haliburton explained. “I didn’t miss. I knew I could play in that system. Steph wants to play off-ball, so I can have the rock and find him…”
He detailed how head coach Steve Kerr personally intervened to test his physical limits. The coaching staff wanted to see how the prospect handled fatigue.
“Steve [Kerr] stepped into my workout and was like, ‘He needs to do conditioning shooting, we need to see it full court,'” Haliburton said. “Then I didn’t miss again and I was like, ‘They’re drafting me at two.'”
DON’T MISS: ‘I Was Just Angry’ — Tyrese Haliburton Revisits the NBA Draft Snub That Felt the ‘Most Personal’
The front office quickly dashed those hopes during the ensuing interview process. Management acknowledged his basketball acumen but refused to deviate from their predetermined draft board.
“In the interview, they were like, ‘We know you fit us perfect, but we don’t know if we draft you at No. 2,'” Haliburton noted.
For a fanbase watching Curry’s final years slip away, Haliburton’s admission was nothing short of heartbreaking, as one user remarked: “Joe Lacob will pay for his sins.”
Joe Lacob will pay for his sins
— Noah (@NoahFarrer79825) August 15, 2026
“This is just cruel lol,” another handle chimed in.
“…Warriors deserved their downfall, unfortunately,” one NBA observer claimed.
“We know you fit us perfect, but we don’t know if we could draft you at 2.” ???????????
Warriors deserved their downfall, unfortunately. https://t.co/zYkaGJ35E5
— MeloHive 🛸💕 (@Meloleague) August 15, 2026
The Warriors selected James Wiseman with that number two pick. He had the size and athleticism but lacked the toolkit required to function in Kerr’s system, forcing Golden State to abandon the development project midway through Wiseman’s third season.
The Warriors traded him to the Detroit Pistons in a multi-team deal that yielded Gary Payton II.
“Funny thing about the wiseman pick, no one criticized them for it at the time. They get paid to get it right EOD, but I feel like you always swing for the big with that much talent. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out,” one user weighed in with a balanced take.
Funny thing about the wiseman pick, no one criticized them for it at the time. They get paid to get it right EOD, but I feel like you always swing for the big with that much talent. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out https://t.co/FbHkwFvXl0
— The Notorious D.R.E. (@DreDay911) August 15, 2026
Wiseman struggled to secure consistent rotation minutes, serving as a stark contrast to the All-NBA talent Golden State left on the board.
Meanwhile, Haliburton is focused on returning to the court following the 2025 Finals torn Achilles setback, and recent workout footage shows him moving fluidly. The front office expects him to be fully cleared by the time the new season tips off.
For Golden State, however, it is an offseason of what-ifs while they try to salvage Curry’s twilight years.
