The Eastern Conference Finals are set with the Indiana Pacers facing the New York Knicks, and the conversation is heating up—not just on the court, but in the media. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has made his stance clear: while Jalen Brunson is already a superstar, Tyrese Haliburton is “not there yet.”
Stephen A. Smith Draws Line Between Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton in Superstar Debate
On ESPN’s First Take, host Molly Qerim posed the question directly—are Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton already superstars? Smith didn’t hesitate in his response: “Brunson is. Not Halliburton. He’s not there yet,” he declared.
Stephen A. Smith says Jalen Brunson is a superstar, but Tyrese Haliburton is not
“[Hali] isn't asked to do as much to carry [the Pacers'] offense as Brunson does.”
(🎥 @FirstTake / h/t @ClutchPoints )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
Importantly, Smith emphasized that this wasn’t a knock on Haliburton’s abilities. “He is not overrated. Halliburton is not overrated. He can play and he can close, and I give him mad credit for that, but he’s not a superstar.”
Smith pointed to the context of each player’s role on their respective teams. Brunson serves as the focal point for the Knicks, shouldering the offensive burden in clutch situations. “When you consider the undersized Brunson, the load that he carries because of the New York Knicks, we’ve seen them do some good things,” Smith said.
He contrasted this with Haliburton’s situation in Indiana, where the offensive burden is more evenly distributed. “When you consider the offensive efficiency of the Indiana Pacers and the multitude of bodies that they have, the depth that they have, Halliburton isn’t asked to do as much to carry their offense as Jalen Brunson does for the New York Knicks,” Smith argued.
Brunson’s playoff numbers were another key factor in Smith’s assessment. “To have that load on the biggest stage and to answer the call the way that he has, averaging 36 a game after losses in the postseason, doing what he has done for the New York Knicks since he has arrived,” he added.
Smith didn’t stop there. He emphasized Brunson’s consistent postseason excellence. “Did y’all know that in the three years Jalen Brunson has been in New York City, do you know he is the leading scorer in the postseason, averaging 30 a game over these three years?” Smith asked.
“This is who he is. So, and to be the clutch Player of the Year, to be a closer, he is clearly a superstar in this game. He deserves it, he has earned it, and the brother is special. There’s no doubt about it.”
Though Haliburton has signed a massive five-year, $244.6 million contract with the Pacers, Smith maintains that recognition as a superstar is earned on more than potential and paychecks. “Halliburton makes noise and deserves our respect. But he’s not a superstar.”