By Mallory Mattingly
Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton isn’t just relying on his skill during the Eastern Conference Finals; he’s also relying on his faith in Christ.
“Over the last two years, my religion has become very important in my life,” Haliburton said in an interview with GQ Sports. “Just understanding that I’m made in the image of God, in a world where you have a bad game and they’re killing you on social media, or your confidence goes up and down, I can always come right here. This is my peace.”
Haliburton wasn’t the kid who grew up in church or even reading the Bible. He started searching for more when he entered the NBA. Haliburton began attending chapel services before games and even reading the Bible.
“Chapel is a big part of my game-day routine,” the athlete told Sports Spectrum. “It started my rookie year with Harrison Barnes. As my vet, he always made sure I was going to chapel…That 15-20 minutes I get every day to step aside and talk about what really matters, which is my Lord and Savior — I think it’s very important for me. I think we’ve built a little bit of a community within our locker room too.
“It’s a super cool thing that we do here in the NBA and I always appreciate it,” he added. “So [chapel has] been a big part of my success and, honestly, my sanity throughout this year. It’s been an up-and-down year, but I know that coming back to the [Bible], coming back to my peace really there always makes me feel at peace and knowing the bigger picture.”
“That 15 to 20 minutes I get everyday to step aside and talk about what really matters, which is my Lord and Savior, I think is very important for me.”
— Pacers @TyHaliburton22 on his faith and being a part of pregame chapelpic.twitter.com/jI1VgdY19L
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) April 9, 2025
Related: Pacers Point Guard Finds ‘Peace’ in Pregame Bible Study
“My faith has grown a lot over the last year or two,” Haliburton said to NBA.com. “Growing up we didn’t go to church a lot, but we understood God’s place in our lives. Now that I’m an adult I guess — I own a house now and live on my own — I go to church on Sunday every chance I can. I go to chapel before games.”
As Haliburton plays for another chance at an NBA Finals appearance, he’s focused on what God says about him.
“He’s the only one who can really judge me,” the point guard told GQ Sports.
As Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers get ready to face off agains thte New York Knicks in the Easter Conference Finals, the athlete will do all he can to help his team succeed and give the glory back to God.
Read Next: NY Knicks Guard Josh Hart Leans on Faith Amid Tough Playoff Stretch
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