This weekend, all eyes are on Tyrese Haliburton as the Indiana Pacers host NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. At a live podcast taping with ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pacers’ star point guard shared an intriguing anecdote about Wojnarowski’s unexpected influence when Haliburton was traded to Indiana two years ago.
Haliburton revealed that the trade caught him off guard, recalling his confusion when he first heard the news. The Sacramento Kings had informed Haliburton’s representatives shortly before the 2022 NBA trade deadline that he could be moved, but they were vague about the destination.
Haliburton received another call from his representatives, expressing frustration with the lack of clarity from the Kings. “They’re being weird, they’re not answering our calls, weird stuff is happening,” his agent informed him.
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Then, unexpectedly, Haliburton heard Wojnarowski’s voice on the call, providing the answer he was seeking. “They’re like, ‘We just don’t know who the team is.’ And I’m like, ‘Who could it be? Is it Philly?’ And then, Woj’s voice comes across, ‘I think it’s Indiana,'” Haliburton recounted on The Woj Pod.
Haliburton had no idea Wojnarowski was also on the call. “I’m thinking I’m on the phone with my agents, and it’s like Woj is on the phone,” he said. Shortly after, Haliburton was traded to Indiana.
While sports insider stories often involve a lack of sleep and intense scrutiny, being wired into a phone call between an agent and player is a new level of involvement. Haliburton, however, took it in stride, acknowledging Wojnarowski’s mysterious omnipresence in NBA trade discussions.
While some players might view this situation as an invasion of privacy, Haliburton saw the humor and uniqueness in it. Having connections in the media certainly helps to stay ahead of the curve, even if it means inadvertently being part of a breaking news story.
