"I left in tears because I was so embarrassed" - How getting blocked by a three-year-old helped change Tyrese Haliburton's jump shot

Tyrese Haliburton has showcased his extensive offensive skills through his first four years in the Association, combining his impressive playmaking skills with a deft shooting touch. Interestingly, though, Haliburton's jump shot has received plenty of criticism.

In a recent interview with GQ, Tyrese said his mechanics were even much worse earlier in his life. At 14, the Indiana Pacers star's jump shot began well below his waist. So, Hali's AAU coach, Bryan Johnikin, tried tinkering with it by having his three-year-old grandson defend it with his arms up high. The preschooler successfully blocked the shot.

"I left in tears because I was so embarrassed of what was going on," Haliburton recalled .

Hali's jump shot

Johnikin was worried he scared whom he considered the team's best player away. Fortunately, Haliburton kept coming back and worked on his supposed weakness. His shooting form may still be far from ideal, but does it matter when it works?

Since coming into the league as the Sacramento Kings ' No. 12 pick in the 2019 draft, he has shot at least 40% from the 3-point line every year except last season, when his efficiency dipped to 36.4%.

The Iowa State University product could be hearing unsolicited advice about his jumper. However, he already had a believer even before he officially became an NBA player. After a workout for the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr told then-Kings coach Luke Walton not to mess with his shot .

Hali's persistence

It's not only Haliburton's outside shooting that was underrated earlier in his career. Despite a solid two-year stint in college and impressing some scouts before the 2019 draft, he fell all the way to 12th. Then, the two-time All-Star might have felt undervalued or wrongly utilized by the Kings, who had him playing shooting guard even though his potential as an elite floor general was evident.

However, some years after a trade to the Pacers, Hali can now boast of being a top-15 player in the NBA, even if some might oppose that notion. An argument for his case, though, is his All-NBA Third Team berth last season and securing one of the first 11 roster spots of the U.S. men's national basketball team.

The 24-year-old guard might currently be at the bottom of Team USA's pecking order. Still, the Olympic experience in Paris should only help him improve further. But perhaps the "Avengers" could still find use for him in Paris when they need a reliable marksman.

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