Haliburton credit Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum for “conserving it 100” conversations that helped him construct that immunity to rejection. Embiid, who has been topic to ridicule as he fails to remain wholesome, has been texting with Haliburton all through the postseason, imploring him to shoot the ball extra. “Sooner or later, worrying about what my friends assume solely holds a lot weight. I believe my friends (whom) I actually respect, that modifications issues,” Haliburton stated. “For that ballot, there’s no names to faces, it’s all nameless. Having relationships with guys like Jayson and Joel, who’re guys that I do know on the high of the sport, them being sincere with me, that’s necessary. I respect their opinions greater than anyone.” -via New York Occasions / Could 7, 2025