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[Saba Sports News] Tyrese Haliburton’s benching by Team USA at the Paris Olympics had more to it than initially met the eye.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Indiana Pacers star was dealing with a “minor” leg injury during the Olympics and even underwent an MRI, though Team USA did not announce it. Additionally, Haliburton was caught in a “numbers game” that led to his limited playing time, but he still has a future with USA Basketball.
It’s unclear if the leg injury is related to the hamstring issue that troubled Haliburton in the latter half of the 2023-24 NBA season. He appeared in just three of six Olympic games, averaging 2.7 points and 0.7 assists, with limited minutes.
Despite Haliburton’s reduced role, Team USA won their fifth straight Olympic gold, defeating France 98-87. At 24, Haliburton’s dynamic offensive abilities likely would have made a bigger impact had he been fully healthy, unlike another Team USA player who was mostly a healthy scratch during the Olympics.