Overview
- Haliburton told the Numbers on the Board podcast that his Golden State workout was "the best workout" of his life and that team staff told him he "fit perfectly" but said they "couldn't draft" him at No. 2.
- Golden State used the No. 2 pick in 2020 on Memphis center James Wiseman, a selection the coverage now frames as costly after Wiseman struggled with injuries, limited minutes and is currently a free agent.
- Haliburton slipped into the late lottery, began his career in Sacramento and developed into Indiana’s primary playmaker who powered the Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals and ranks among the top win shares from the 2020 draft class.
- The podcast remarks, reported Sunday, have prompted fresh media reassessment of the Warriors’ 2020 draft evaluation and their choice to prioritize a big man while Stephen Curry remained the franchise anchor.
- Haliburton has been medically cleared for the 2026–27 season but said he needs preseason minutes to regain full game shape after his Achilles tear, a timeline that will shape how quickly he resumes leading the Pacers.