On Saturday, the U.S. men’s basketball team clinched their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, defeating France 98-87. Tyrese Haliburton, a key player for Team USA, took to social media to humorously acknowledge that he didn’t play a role in this final victory.
Haliburton, who didn’t see action during the semifinals or finals, shared a selfie of himself with the gold medal, captioning it, “When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A.”
At just 24, Haliburton appeared in only three out of six games in Paris, contributing eight points and two assists throughout his Olympic experience. His participation was reportedly limited due to a minor undisclosed leg injury, for which he underwent an MRI, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Despite not making a larger impact, Haliburton earns his gold medal, adding to the U.S. men’s team legacy of victories from Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.
Had he been fully fit, Haliburton would still have likely come off the bench, as Team USA relied on Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry at point guard. Curry averaged 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shining in his first Olympic Games.
Looking ahead, Haliburton’s age opens doors for future Olympic opportunities, particularly with the Los Angeles 2028 Games looming. With veterans like Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant possibly stepping back, younger players like Haliburton may find new chances to showcase their skills.
He earned his Olympic spot after a standout NBA season with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 20.1 points, 10.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds, leading the league in assists and helping the Pacers reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury sidelined him during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, the eventual NBA champions.