How legendary is LeBron James’ chalk toss? It will live in the memory of most NBA fans and continue to be mimicked by kids in school and even die-hard NBA fans. Similarly, before a crucial game, Tyrese Haliburton spoke about his pre-game routines to get his mindset right. With his team reaching the Finals, Haliburton looks to win his first NBA title.
Similar to most people, some NBA players believe in superstitions to bring them good luck or just to get their brain cells calm before the explosion on the court. Hence, the Indiana Pacers guard discussed his pre-game routines.
Tyrese Haliburton Keeps His Pre-game Routines Constant for Every Outing
In the pre-game presser, Haliburton gave an interview and said, “No, honestly, I try to approach everything the same way. I feel like if I try to do something different, I’m not like superstitious or anything, but I feel like you got to treat every game the same way, honestly.”
Staying locked in remains the key to the Finals, be it the NBA, NFL, or any sport. These pre-game routines or superstitions keep their mental game in check, preparing themselves for the physical battle on the court. And Haliburton’s ones are fairly interesting.
“I still eat Goldfish at 60 minutes on the clock. I still go to chapel. On the road, I don’t go to chapel. I kind of do a private chapel session. That’s really the only thing I change,” said Haliburton, who firmly believes in god.
With all the mental health questions in the limelight, it’s challenging for Haliburton and other athletes to stay focused; even the greatest are not immune to this.
Even the Greatest Crumbles Down
Look at Simone Biles, for example. Even the world’s greatest gymnast faced mental health concerns at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But in a high-pressure situation, keeping mental health in check works wonders for people. Haliburton, though, approaches the game normally and doesn’t try to deflect his anxiety to his teammates.
“Everything is pretty much the same. Just try to treat it the same. The minute I try to switch it up or put more pressure on myself or our group that really needs to be applied, then I feel like guys can get nervous, whatever the case is. Let’s just be loose, play basketball,” said Haliburton.
Just like Haliburton, some basketball players have some fascinating pre-game routines. Michael Jordan wore his North Carolina college shorts under his Bulls uniform, believing it brought him good luck. Likewise, the Dallas Mavericks icon Jason Terry wore the opposition team’s shorts to bed before game days.
Hence, it’s Haliburton’s time to shine, and he’s certainly doing that. Game 3 will head to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder lock horns for an intriguing clash.
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