Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Tyrese Haliburton was able to fulfill a childhood dream by playing for and winning a gold medal on Team USA with LeBron James at the 2024 Olympics.
In a post on X, Haliburton showed some pictures his mother sent him of him wearing old James jerseys as a kid, as well as one of him standing next to the future Hall of Famer with their Olympic medals.
Haliburton also posted a photo of himself in an old Kevin Durant jersey from the US team, as well as a photo of him on the court with Durant before a game in Paris.
Haliburton was only three years old when James was selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft. He was 10 when Durant made his debut for the U.S. team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
The United States men’s national team has won its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, defeating Serbia and France in the semifinals to take the top prize at the Paris Games.
Haliburton didn’t see much time on the court in his first Olympics. He played a total of 26 minutes in three games, scoring eight points and adding two assists.
Haliburton took it in his stride and made a great joke after the US national team’s 98-87 victory over France in the gold medal game.
Participating in the Olympics could benefit Haliburton in the future. Players like James (39), Durant (35) and Stephen Curry (36) could be out of the squad by the time of the 2028 Olympics.
Haliburton was the second youngest player on the 2024 team at 24 years old. Anthony Edwards was the youngest at 23 years old.
The U.S. team could be going through a transition phase at the next Olympics. Haliburton is already an established NBA star who is still young and improving, so he could be on the radar in the future.
Regardless of what happens in 2028, Haliburton will forever carry the memory of everything that happened in Paris with him.
