Wednesday’s highly-anticipated showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers is extra special for Tyrese Haliburton. Not only is the All-Star point guard looking to score another win against their Central Division rivals but also, this will be the first time the Oshkosh, Wisconsin native will be playing in Milwaukee this season.
Haliburton made sure to mark the special occasion with an endearing gesture for the kids of his local community.
Tyrese Haliburton Brings Oshkosh Players to Milwaukee Bucks Game
Haliburton went to high school at Oshkosh North High School, which is roughly 80 minutes away from Milwaukee. As a way to give back to the school that fostered him as a teenager — not to mention, hone his skills on the basketball court — Haliburton decided to invite this year’s Oshkosh North team to the Fiserv Forum for the Pacers’ shootaround session on Wednesday morning.
Needless to say, it was a tremendous once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids.
“Where I come from, this isn’t something that happens,” Haliburton said, via Dustin Dopirak of the Indy Star. “I would have never had this opportunity in high school. This would have meant the world to me in high school. Just understanding these kids grew up on the same streets that I grew up on. They go to the same school, have the same teachers. These kids were running around at high school games when I was in high school and they were fourth and fifth graders. It’s super cool to see these kids grow up and that they get to be here. That means the world to me.”
These young men see Haliburton as their hero — someone who inspires them and makes them believe that anything is possible. The 23-year-old knows that this is both a gift and a burden. Haliburton is well aware of the responsibilities he carries now that he’s in the position that he is in. This is not something that he takes lightly.
“I don’t want to come across as this, like, mythical figure to them,” Haliburton said. “Because that can happen when you’re from a small town. Within the next three or four years, there are going to kids that I’ve never seen before that are going to high school. To me, it’s like, I want to be in front of them. In the summer, I like going home, I like being in front of them, hanging out with them, working out, they get to see me work out. I like them to see me and understand I was in their shoes, some of the gear they’re wearing, I wore. It means the world to be in front of them and see Obi (Toppin) and Buddy (Hield) and all my teammates interact with them. Because I don’t think a lot of these guys don’t look at me as Tyrese Haliburton. They look at me as just, Tyrese. … I’m normal to them. That’s cool.”
Setting the Path
Haliburton has soared to new heights in his NBA career. However, he has never failed to look back at where it all started from him. Now that he’s reached the pinnacle, he wants to do whatever he can to help the kids from his old high school reach their dreams.
“The odds of these kids playing in the NBA, they’re low, like with everybody, but they see me as a kid who, I went after my dream and I achieved what I wanted to in life,” Haliburton said. “These kids, I’m sure, have other dreams than playing in the NBA. There’s kids that are really good in football, kids who are really good in school and want to do different stuff. I just want them to chase what they want to do. That’s the biggest thing with me getting in the NBA. I want to inspire people back home to do what you want to do in life. Chase your dream. Everything is possible.”
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.
