"I need her jersey" - Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shouts out Aari McDonald in heartfelt Indiana crossover moment

Aari McDonald and the Indiana Fever led 46-24 at halftime against the Las Vegas Aces. Taking over the starting point guard spot for the injured Caitlin Clark, the 5-foot-7 guard ran the offense well and provided stout defense. The Fever outscored the Aces by 25 points in McDonald’s 17 minutes of action.

Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton, who is recovering from a right Achilles tendon surgery, shouted out McDonald on X/Twitter:

McDonald’s stats in the first half did not stand out. She had six points, two assists and one rebound. However, the Fever offense had rhythm, and players often got open looks behind her playmaking. Indiana made 18 of 29 shots behind 13 assists and only five turnovers to dominate the opening half.

Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ franchise point guard, could not help but be impressed by how Aari McDonald ran the team. Considering McDonald only signed a regular roster spot roughly two weeks ago, her performance has just been outstanding.

The Indiana Fever owned an 8-8 record heading into their showdown against the Las Vegas Aces. Aari McDonald has been a difference-maker, though. Indiana is 4-2 in games McDonald played.

Fans react to Tyrese Haliburton’s shout-out to Aari McDonald

Tyrese Haliburton, the NBA superstar point guard, knows a thing or two about efficiently running an offense and impacting the game without scoring. Haliburton’s tweet about McDonald quickly gained traction, prompting fans to react:

One fan said:

Another fan added:

One more fan continued:

Another fan reacted:

Like Tyrese Haliburton, basketball fans have been impressed by the impact Aari McDonald has had on the Indiana Fever. She came off the bench in her first six games with the team. Eventually, Fever coach Stephanie White finally inserted her into the starting unit with Caitlin Clark injured.

In the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final against the heavily favored Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, McDonald delivered. She finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal. The lefty point guard's performance helped the Fever to a 74-59 win.

The Fever took a commanding halftime lead against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Again, McDonald had a key role in Indiana's efficient and balanced attack. Haliburton could not help but give her her highly deserved praise.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero