Dwayne Wade & ex-Bulls guard schools Stephen A. Smith for downplaying Tyrese Halliburton’s ‘superstar’ label

Dwayne Wade and Jay Williams reacted to Stephen A. Smith’s take on Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s “superstar” label.

In an episode of “First Take” shared on Instagram Friday, Smith explained why he isn’t convinced Haliburton is a superstar yet.

“When I judge and I think about a superstar, I’m thinking about the No. 1 option on a night in-night out basis that’s having to carry a certain load that others don’t normally carry,” Smith said.

The ESPN analyst added that Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Steph Curry carry the load for their teams every game. Smith argued that Haliburton is different and labeled him a “young, rising star” instead.

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Wade, a three-time NBA champion, commented on the post, sharing his view on what makes a superstar.

"A superstar in basketball is a player who you give the ball to to deliver and they deliver!" Wade wrote.

Williams replied:

"Tell this man D Wade."

Williams, currently an NBA analyst, played one season in the league. The Chicago Bulls drafted the 6-foot-2 guard as the second overall pick in 2002. However, his career was cut short due to a motorcycle accident in 2003.

Dwayne Wade, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, played 16 years in the NBA and is currently part of the Utah Jazz ownership group.

Dwayne Wade and Jay Williams have separately praised Tyrese Haliburton's NBA Finals debut

The Indiana Pacers stole Game 1 of the NBA Finals behind Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot. The two-time All-Star hit a mid-range jumper to seal a 111-110 victory.

On Friday's "Get Up," Williams commended Indiana’s resilience and praised Haliburton’s poise.

"The Pacers didn't just win," Williams said. "Once again they've broken basketball logic. ... Tyrese Haliburton is officially the most dangerous man in chaos."

Meanwhile, "Wy Network," a podcast hosted by Wade, shared the NBA legend’s reaction to the thrilling finish of Game 1. The 13-time All-Star called the game one of the greatest he has ever witnessed and labeled Haliburton a superstar.

"Haliburton is a f***** superstar," Wade said. "It ain't no question no more. ... I'm gonna get a jersey. I need to get it signed."

Haliburton finished Game 1 with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on 4-for-11 shooting. Game 2 will be Sunday before the series shifts to Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Games 3 and 4.

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Kim Daniel Rubinos

Kim is an editor for US Sports and an NBA and WNBA analyst at Sportskeeda with a decade of multi-industry experience. He has a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in finance.

Writing has been Kim's passion, and during college, he was editor-in-chief. He has also accumulated a diverse entrepreneurial background. He possesses a knack for research and was recently a professor.

Kim has been a Boston Celtics fan since 2007, through its many ups and downs. He was delighted when the Cs raised its 18th banner in 2024.

Beyond basketball, he also enjoys following the NFL, MLB and F1. When not immersed in the world of sports and when he is not editing or writing, Kim is likely searching for the perfect cup of joe.

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