“He’s one of the greatest simple early-passers I’ve ever seen” – Steve Nash on Tyrese Haliburton’s pass that’s leaving defenses clueless originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Bounce pass, pocket pass, no-look pass, behind-the-back pass, bullet pass, full-court pass — Steve Nash had them all. One of the greatest point guards of all time and a player who used his passing to lift fans out of their seats night after night, Nash is definitely someone who knows a thing or two about playmaking.
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And even though it feels like old-school floor generals like him are slowly disappearing, replaced by scoring-dominant combo guards, Tyrese Haliburton won’t let us forget them so easily.
He came from the shadow, just like Nash once did, but quickly won over NBA fans with his flashy passes and incredible basketball IQ. Speaking on the Mind the Game podcast, Nash himself zeroed in on one specific aspect of Haliburton’s passing that fascinates him most.
“I would say this about Tyrese — I think he’s one of the greatest simple early-passers I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Sometimes you have great vision like Tyrese and you want to hold it to make that killer pass. You think, ‘I can get something better,’ and you might hold it for a second. But sometimes he just gets rid of it. And what that does — it makes defenses unsettled,” Nash concluded.
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Read-and-react basketball
That exact style of play defined the Indiana Pacers throughout this year’s playoffs. Under Rick Carlisle, they implemented an unconventional system — not overly schematic, but based on read-and-react basketball, creating chaos on the court with their relentless pace.
Kevin Durant highlighted this underrated aspect of Haliburton’s game that made the Pacers’ offense so dangerous.
“What I love about Indy too, and what I think is an underrated factor—like, Tyrese kicks the ball ahead,” the new Houston Rockets forward pointed out. “He doesn’t dribble across halfcourt every time… The center hands him the ball, he’s kicking it ahead no matter who it is.”
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Haliburton implemented that frantic rhythm that caught defenses off guard
The Pacers ranked third in pace during the regular season. They averaged 98.5 possessions per game, right around league average, but Haliburton was the man behind that frantic rhythm that caught defenses off guard. That early pass Nash talks about constantly puts opponents in tough spots before they can even set up in defense.
Last season, the Pacers ignited a trend of chaotic pace that left opposing defenses clueless — and unfortunately, in the upcoming season, we’ll likely miss that madness that carried them all the way to the NBA Finals.
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Let’s just hope Haliburton’s Achilles injury doesn’t slow him down. He truly is a unique player.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.