Tyrese Haliburton Sends Message to NBA Rivals: 'I'm Gonna Be Around for a Long Time'

Led by Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers just reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014.

The 24-year-old Haliburton, now a two-time All-Star, enjoyed a tremendous season. However, he wants his doubters and rivals to know that he's not done by any means.

"I'm gonna be around for a long time," Haliburton said in an exclusive interview with GQ's Andrew Greif. "And I have full faith in that. and I gotta prove that, of course, but I guess my biggest thing is, like: this is not a one-time thing, by any means."

Haliburton, who is currently representing Team USA men's basketball in Paris for its quest for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal, also takes umbrage with doubters counting out Indiana potentially contending again in favor of other teams.

"All I keep seeing is, 'Who's going to win the East? Boston, Milwaukee, New York, or Philly?'" Haliburton added.

"It's like, what are we doing [not being included]? But again, we're Indiana, people didn't even know, people didn't even watch us play until the playoffs. People didn't watch us play until the second round. But again, that respect comes with winning. So if we want to gain that respect, we just got to keep having success as a team. And it's coming."

Haliburton has just posted two straight 20-10 seasons, averaging 20.1 points and an NBA-high 10.9 assists in his last campaign. But it's very clear that he's not satisfied.

"I'm coming into this year, and whether it's the case or not, viewing it like everybody thinks my success in the first half of last season was a fluke, and I got to prove it again," Haliburton said.

"And that's just who I am and that's how I'm just cut that way. That's the fun part about it for me: it's just another chip on my shoulder, [added] to the thousands that are already there."

While Haliburton said that he has "a lot to be happy about" and that he's "blessed," he also expressed his desire for greatness.

"I'm greedy, I want to be great," Haliburton said. "So, I mean, what is there to be satisfied about?"

Haliburton has already authored a great resume after just four years in his career, capped by his first All-NBA team nod this season (third team). Of course, there's still more he can accomplish, such as an Eastern Conference title and NBA title on the team side or a higher All-NBA team honor or an MVP honors on the individual side. But the fact of the matter is he's done so well already, and an Olympic gold medal is squarely in his sights now too.

Ultimately, there's no questioning Haliburton's desire for greatness and his competitive nature, and that attitude could easily make him a mainstay among the NBA's greats for some time.