3 things we learned about Tyrese Haliburton from Netflix's 'Starting 5'
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Tyrese Haliburton's relationship with fiancée Jade Jones steals the show on Netflix's new season of "Starting 5."
Tyrese Haliburton is one of the five NBA stars taking center stage in Netflix's second season of "Starting 5."
Why the matters: The episodic docuseries gives Pacers fans a behind-the-scenes look at Hali's life on and off the court throughout the 2024-25 season, including the heartbreaking Achilles injury that ended his season in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
- "Still can't find the words. It's devastating. It sucks," he said of the moment. "I think that my biggest regret from this whole situation is that I didn't talk to the guys at halftime. Like, I didn't give a speech. That was, like, the opportunity for my 'Rudy' speech or 'Hoosiers' speech."
Here is a collection of cool things we learned about Haliburton on "Starting 5."
😈 He likes being the bad guy
- Haliburton's love of pro wrestling is super real, and he uses that form of entertainment to explain that he finds power in playing the "heel."
- "When I allow myself to be the villain, it makes me play better," he said.
- But "Starting 5" co-headliner Kevin Durant, who Haliburton calls "the greatest heel of our generation," thinks Haliburton is still too nice for that.
- "Tyrese is not hated by anybody. For real," Durant says. "A lot of these dudes want to be the heel early on, but it is not your time yet."
🐔 His first date with fiancée Jade Jones didn't happen on a Sunday
- Haliburton and Jones got engaged in grand fashion over the summer at Iowa State, the place they first connected as point guard and cheerleader. But their first date was a simple outing that involved waffle fries and Zac Efron.
- The pair ate Chick-fil-A and talked before watching the movie "High School Musical."
- "On our second date we watched 'High School Music 2,' and on our third date we watched 'High School Musical 3,'" said Haliburton, who revealed their song is "Can I Have This Dance" from the third movie.
💪 He felt great going into Game 7
- "I was so excited. Because I know that Game 7 is where legacies (and) legends are made. I felt free. I felt loose. Going into the game I'm like, this s--- about to be so fun," he said.
- The show then cuts to Haliburton collapsing on the court in pain before being carried to the back.
- "Make it worth it, at least," Haliburton says to himself while watching the rest of Game 7 play out in the locker room. "Make it worth it. Please."
What's next: The Pacers open the regular season at 7:30pm Thursday when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Finals rematch.
- Tickets start at $26.