The 2025 NBA Finals has gifted basketball fans with an unforgettable matchup at the point guard position: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s smooth, surgical shot-making versus Tyrese Haliburton’s dynamic and dazzling playmaking. While both have been spectacular all season long, their head-to-head battle on the biggest stage has elevated this Finals series into instant-classic territory. It’s not just a game—it’s must-see TV.
Let’s talk Shai. What he’s doing for Oklahoma City is nothing short of special. Gilgeous-Alexander, already an MVP candidate and All-NBA talent, has embraced the bright lights with a calm, confident presence that defines his game. Whether it’s hitting mid-range jumpers off a snake dribble or slashing through defenders with deceptive changes of pace, Shai’s offensive package is deep and efficient. He’s not flashy in the traditional sense, but that makes his brilliance even more compelling. He doesn’t just score—he controls the game. His methodical tempo frustrates defenders who are used to chasing speed demons. Instead, they find themselves chasing shadows.
Against the Pacers, Shai has been relentless. He’s averaged over 30 points per game in the Finals so far, doing it on elite shooting splits. More impressive is how he picks his spots. There’s no wasted motion in his game. One dribble, two dribbles, stepback—bucket. Floaters, pull-ups, post fades—Shai’s shot chart is a coach’s dream and a defender’s nightmare. Every possession becomes a lesson in patience, angles, and poise. You can’t rush Shai. You can only hope to slightly bother him.
On the other side, Tyrese Haliburton is conducting the Pacers’ offense like a jazz musician in his prime—fluid, improvisational, yet under total control. What he lacks in scoring punch compared to Shai, he more than makes up for with court vision, pace-setting, and playmaking genius. Haliburton has always been a pass-first guard, but in the Finals, he’s elevated to maestro status. His ability to find shooters in stride, thread no-look bounce passes in transition, or hit rolling bigs with perfect timing has made Indiana’s offense one of the most fun to watch in the league.
Tyrese doesn’t just pass—he manipulates. He’ll look off a defender, freeze the help, and then fire a laser across the court that only a handful of players on Earth can make. His basketball IQ is off the charts, and it shows in how he reads the floor. Even when his shot isn’t falling, Haliburton continues to impact the game in massive ways. In several games of this Finals series, he’s dished out double-digit assists while keeping turnovers low—a rare feat at this level of intensity.
But what makes this matchup truly captivating isn’t just their contrast in style—it’s how each player’s brilliance forces the other to evolve. Shai, traditionally a scorer, has started leaning into more playmaking responsibilities to keep Indiana’s defense guessing. Meanwhile, Haliburton has shown more aggression looking for his own shot, knowing that the Pacers can’t afford to fall behind in scoring runs sparked by Shai’s isolation wizardry.
It’s also a clash of two basketball philosophies. Shai represents the new-age bucket-getter—an elite scorer who doesn’t rely on outrageous athleticism but rather intelligence, footwork, and balance. He’s the guy who can get you a bucket when everything else breaks down. Haliburton, meanwhile, is the cerebral orchestrator—a nod to old-school pass-first guards with a modern twist. He understands tempo better than most and always knows where everyone on the court should be.
Beyond the individual brilliance, this duel has sparked broader conversations around what it means to be a point guard in today’s NBA. In an era where scoring guards often dominate the headlines, Haliburton’s selfless style is a breath of fresh air. At the same time, Shai’s ability to score efficiently from all three levels while still getting teammates involved shows that the hybrid model might be the future.
What’s also been refreshing is the mutual respect between the two stars. On and off the court, there’s no animosity—just appreciation. You can see it in the way they dap each other up after games, or how they speak about each other in postgame interviews. It’s competition at its purest form: two stars pushing each other to be better, forcing each other to dig deeper, and giving fans a show to remember.
Game by game, possession by possession, Shai vs. Haliburton is delivering some of the best point guard play we’ve seen in the Finals in years. This isn’t just about highlights or stats—it’s about leadership, composure, and rising to the occasion when it matters most. It’s about two young stars rewriting what the present and future of the point guard position can look like.
So whether you’re tuning in for Shai’s surgical iso buckets or Haliburton’s no-look dimes, one thing is certain—this PG matchup in the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV is can’t-miss entertainment. Grab your popcorn 🍿, because we’re witnessing history in real time.
