Team USA's Haliburton ready to take Pacers into prime time - ESPN

MANILA, Philippines — Tyrese Haliburton recites this night on the 2023-24 NBA's upcoming schedule from memory instantly.

Jan. 30, 2024. Indiana at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

«It's also my girl's birthday, that's why I know it,» he said. «But, yeah, that's the night.»

That game is special to the Indiana Pacers star, outside of the birthday, because for the first time in his young career he will get to play on TNT, following the «Inside the NBA» pregame show, and enjoy the prime-time attention that comes with it.

«What! You've never played on TNT before?» exclaimed Team USA teammate Mikal Bridges, who was sitting nearby before a practice last week and is a veteran of dozens of national TV games.

«You knew that, bro,» Haliburton said. This is a topic for those who spend any time around him.

«I've been on ESPN once, we beat the Wizards last October.»

The 23-year-old will happily be on ESPN2 as Team USA next plays Montenegro on Friday in the second round at the FIBA World Cup. They finished 3-0 in first round play after Wednesday's 110-62 victory over Jordan.

That factoid about the Pacers' lone ESPN game last season is correct, but he didn't need it checked because Haliburton has been keeping notes. Haliburton, whose three seasons have been played on losing teams in smaller markets in Sacramento and Indiana, has been hidden to a degree from the league's national audience.

«You have to win to get on TV and that's what we need to do,» Haliburton said. «It won't change either. When we win in Indiana, we'll get three national games.»

Haliburton says this all with a smile. He's used to it; it has been the story of his basketball life. When he was a kid, he was overlooked compared to players from Milwaukee and Chicago because he was from