Winning an Olympic gold medal is the pinnacle of a basketball career. Usually, that involves a "Flu Game" or a game-winning buzzer-beater. For Tyrese Haliburton, it involved a viral tweet about a group project.
If you followed the 2024 Paris Olympics, you saw the Indiana Pacers star on the sidelines. He was often the first person off the bench to high-five LeBron James or Steph Curry. He looked like the world's most enthusiastic fan. But for a guy who led the NBA in assists and carried a team to the Eastern Conference Finals, his stat line in Paris was... well, let's just say it was light.
Haliburton finished the tournament with a gold medal around his neck, yet he played just 26 total minutes across the entire Olympic run. To put that in perspective, he averages more than that in a single half for the Pacers.
The Tyrese Haliburton Gold Medal Mystery: Why the DNP?
People were genuinely confused. You have the best pure playmaker in the league, a guy who basically functions as a walking 12-assist night, and he's racking up "Did Not Play - Coach's Decision" designations (DNPs) in the biggest games of his life.
Honestly, it wasn't just about Steve Kerr being picky.
While the official box scores don't show it, reports eventually trickled out that Haliburton was nursing a minor leg injury during the knockout rounds. He actually underwent an MRI during the games. Team USA didn't make a big stink about it at the time—likely because they didn't need to—but it explains why he was the odd man out in the rotation.
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Then there was the roster construction. Team USA was basically a "Greatest Hits" album of the last 20 years. When you have LeBron, KD, and Steph playing like they're 25 again, and Devin Booker willingly turning into a defensive specialist, the minutes for a young, pass-first guard disappear quickly.
The Meme That Defined a Medal
Most stars would’ve been salty. We've seen it before—players pouting at the end of the bench because they aren't getting their "respect."
Haliburton did the opposite.
The moment the final whistle blew and the Tyrese Haliburton gold medal became official, he hopped on X (formerly Twitter) and posted a selfie with the hardware. The caption? "When you ain't do nun on the group project and still get an A."
It was perfect. It was self-aware. It basically broke the internet because every single person who has ever survived a high school science project could relate. He didn't try to pretend he was the MVP of the final against France. He leaned into the reality of the situation with a level of humor we rarely see from elite athletes.
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What Actually Happened in Those 26 Minutes?
Even though he was "the group project guy," Haliburton wasn't just a cheerleader. In the limited time he did play—mostly during the group stage win over Puerto Rico—he did exactly what he does: he moved the ball.
- He averaged 2.7 points and 0.7 assists in his three appearances.
- He shot 100% on two-point attempts (granted, it was a small sample size).
- He provided a "vibe" that several teammates, including LeBron James, credited for keeping the locker room light.
There’s a real value in having a guy who is a Top 15 player in the world be willing to sit the bench without complaining. It sets a tone. If Tyrese Haliburton—an All-NBA First Team candidate—isn't complaining about minutes, nobody else can either.
From Paris Gold to the 2025 NBA Finals Heartbreak
The momentum from that Olympic summer actually carried over in a big way. Returning to Indy with a Tyrese Haliburton gold medal seemed to flip a switch. During the 2024-25 season, he wasn't just the "pass-first guy" anymore. He became a stone-cold killer.
He led the Pacers on a historic run, proving that their 2024 Eastern Conference Finals appearance wasn't a fluke. They actually made it to the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But sports can be cruel.
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In Game 7 of those Finals, the nightmare scenario happened. Haliburton went down with what was later confirmed as a torn right Achilles tendon. It was devastating. One minute he's on the verge of adding an NBA ring to his Olympic gold, the next he's being helped off the floor in tears.
He later posted an emotional message, quoting Kobe Bryant and promising to "fight like hell" to get back. It's a reminder that even the highest highs of an Olympic gold medal are often balanced by the brutal physical toll of the game.
The Road Ahead: LA 2028?
The silver lining here—if there is one—is that Haliburton is still only 25.
Most experts, including Grant Hill and the USA Basketball committee, view him as a cornerstone for the next cycle. By the time the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics roll around, LeBron, KD, and Steph will almost certainly be retired from international play.
The "group project" joke won't apply next time. Haliburton is the projected starting point guard for that squad. He’s already "paid his dues" by being the hype man in Paris.
Actionable Insights for Following Haliburton’s Career:
- Watch the Recovery: His return from the Achilles tear will be the biggest storyline in Indy for the next 12 months. Achilles injuries aren't the career-killers they used to be (look at KD), but for a player who relies on a quick first step, the rehab is everything.
- Leadership Growth: Look for Haliburton to take on a more vocal leadership role. His experience in the Olympic locker room with the "Old Guard" gave him a masterclass in how legends carry themselves.
- The 2028 Cycle: Keep an eye on the 2027 FIBA World Cup. That will be the first real test of the "post-LeBron" era for Team USA, and Haliburton will likely be the one holding the keys to the offense.
Tyrese Haliburton might have joked about not doing anything for that "A," but in the world of professional basketball, being the guy everyone wants in the room is a talent in itself. He earned that gold medal by being the ultimate teammate—and he'll likely earn the next one by being the ultimate player.