Indiana Pacers' star guard Tyrese Haliburton joined the Numbers On The Board show to talk about the 2020 NBA Draft and his experience. "Going into the draft, I worked out with Golden State, Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota," Haliburton said. The guard went as far as saying his workout with the Warriors was the best of his life. A young Haliburton saw an opportunity to play alongside Steph Curry as a role he could flourish in with Curry playing off the ball on occasion. In an interview with the Warriors, the front office and coach Steve Kerr saw the immediate fit. However, they did feel like they could take him at No. 2 -- due to where he was on most draft boards -- and opted to go with the higher-rated James Wiseman out of Memphis.
"We know you'd be perfect fit for us but we can't draft you at No. 2," Haliburton said he was told by Kerr. Then, just before the draft, his agent suggested an additional interview; the Sacramento Kings, picking 12th. According to his agent, Sacramento seemed like a team that was a potential trade-up candidate on draft night. On the podcast, Haliburton named every player taken in front of him in order: Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Onyeka Okongwu, Killian Hayes, Obi Toppin, Deni Avdija, Jalen Smith and Devin Vassell. "On ESPN best available, I was #4," Haliburton said. Chicago was on the clock at that position and viewed as a top destination for Haliburton. Instead, they chose 6-6 forward Patrick Williams out of Florida State. Buy Indiana Pacers tickets
“We know you'd be a perfect fit for us, but we can't draft you at No. 2." 😳 Tyrese Haliburton talks about how his pre-draft workout with the Golden State Warriors in 2020 was the best workout of his life. pic.twitter.com/9p0wExqqlV — Numbers On The Board (@notbpod) August 15, 2026 After being contacted by the Washington Wizards, Haliburton thought he would be going to D.C. at No. 9 to back up John Wall. But that didn't happen either. After that, Haliburton started thinking of hypothetical destinations with teams rumored to be interested: Phoenix with Devin Booker, Dallas with Luka Doncic, but the slide continued. All the way to Sacramento at No. 12. "In the span of an hour I thought that I was going to Chicago, D.C., Detroit, Boston, Dallas; go down the line," Haliburton told the hosts, with Boston and Dallas trade possibilities. Nonetheless, he joined Sacramento, playing alongside De'Aaron Fox for a season a half before he was part of a franchise-altering trade that brought the young point guard to Indiana. Haliburton did make sure to note he was glad with how things turned out. Haliburton is now eyeing a return to the court, after not playing since Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals when he sustained a torn Achilles. He rejoins a Pacers' squad with the depth and experience that seems poised to make a splash in the Eastern Conference this season. Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Tyrese Haliburton isn't playing for the Warriors: 'We can't draft you at No. 2':