Tyrese Haliburton Credits Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum for Support After NBA Players Poll

Chats with the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid and Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum helped Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton forge an "immunity to rejection" after he was voted the NBA's most overrated player by his fellow players.

"At some point, worrying about what my peers think only holds so much weight," Haliburton said to The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "I think my peers (whom) I really respect, that changes things.

"For that poll, there's no names to faces, it's all anonymous. Having relationships with guys like Jayson and Joel, who are guys that I know at the top of the game, them being honest with me, that's important. I respect their opinions more than anybody.”

Ninety players responded to Sam Amick and Josh Robbins of The Athletic when asked who the NBA's most overrated player is. Haliburton being the leading vote-getter translated to only 13 votes. Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was next on the list with nine.

While that's not a very large sample, the results were the results, and sports fans never miss an easy opportunity for trash talk.

Haliburton seems to have taken the anonymous poll as a challenge.

In a closeout game against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, he had 26 points and nine assists as Indiana advanced. The two-time All-Star has been just as good in the Eastern Conference semifinals, combining for 41 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists and helping the Pacers grab a 2-0 lead on the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

Depending on how the rest of the series unfolds, Haliburton's game-winner on Tuesday night might've been a dagger to the heart of the Cavs.

Right now, he's enjoying the sweetest form of validation toward his skeptics.