Despite an impressive college résumé and strong showings in pre-draft workouts, Iowa State star Tyrese Haliburton surprisingly fell to the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Teams hesitated due to concerns about his slim build, unorthodox shooting mechanics, and doubts about his ability to generate his own offense in the pros—issues that led many to believe his ceiling was limited.
Haliburton has since admitted the experience stung, especially when franchises like the Pistons, who clearly needed a point guard, passed on him. How has he done in the NBA since then?
Revisiting Tyrese Haliburton’s 2020 NBA Draft Slide
Since stepping into the NBA, former Iowa State standout Tyrese Haliburton has dismantled the concerns that led to his surprising drop to No. 12 in the 2020 NBA Draft. Now a cornerstone for the Indiana Pacers, Haliburton’s elite efficiency and vision have drawn direct comparisons to Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash.
Averaging 26.9 points and an NBA-best 11.9 assists per game on .521/.447/.881 shooting splits, he’s transformed from a League Pass favorite into a legitimate MVP candidate.
Haliburton recently delivered his first career triple-double—26 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds—without committing a single turnover in a clutch win over the Celtics, a performance that solidified his rising status.
With his rise has come renewed scrutiny over how he was passed over by so many teams in what many now consider a weaker draft class.
Only Duke’s Jay Williams (No. 2 pick, 2000) and Wake Forest’s Chris Paul (No. 4 pick, 2005) had done the same. What set Haliburton apart, however, was that he also shot over 50% from the field—something neither Paul nor Williams achieved, placing Haliburton in a category of his own.
Despite his statistical résumé and a reputation for efficiency, passing creativity, and high basketball IQ, evaluators expressed hesitation. Concerns centered on his slender frame, atypical shooting form, and questions about his ability to create offense in isolation. Many labeled him a “high-floor, low-ceiling” prospect, a notion Haliburton didn’t take lightly.
Tyrese Haliburton wasn't happy about people putting a cap on his upside in conversations around the 2020 NBA draft (he was drafted 12th).
"We'll revisit in a few years and see what that ceiling really is" 🤔
Game winning stepback 3 to put Indiana up 2-0 on Cleveland tonight. pic.twitter.com/OgtrDJRPNf
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 7, 2025
“I mean everybody’s just like, he has a high floor, he’s probably safest pick in a draft, which I agree with, but low ceiling — I think is a tough comment to make,” he said. “Think we’ll revisit it in a couple of years and see what that ceiling really is.”
The doubts didn’t sit well then, and seem even more misplaced now.
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer called him a “genius playmaker,” while ESPN’s Mike Schmitz praised his “tremendous vision in pick-and-roll” and ability to “empower teammates.”
RELATED: How a 3-Star Tyrese Haliburton from Wisconsin Became the Pacers’ Franchise Cornerstone
Even before the league, his production stood out. As an underclassman at Iowa State, Haliburton joined rare company by averaging over 15 points, six assists, and two steals per game while hitting over 40% from deep.
Now, he and the Pacers travel back to Indiana with a 2-0 series lead over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Whether Haliburton and the ‘Cers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals or not, this 2020 NBA Draft prediction is one that can be filed in the “Ice Cold Takes” folder.
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