Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton explains what life is like with a February 29 birthday
INDIANAPOLIS — For the sixth time ever, Tyrese Haliburton is celebrating his birthday today.
The Indiana Pacers star guard was born on February 29, 2000 — a leap day. It only comes once every four years. Haliburton has been on the earth for 24 trips around the sun, but this specific calendar reading only comes once every 1,461 days. It's a special occurrence.
"It's pretty cool. We don't play on the day which is unfortunate," Haliburton shared on Wednesday. "I wish we played on the day. It's exciting, exciting to have a real birthday. Six!" he exclaimed.
It would have been the first time that Haliburton has played a game on his actual birthday. He didn't have a chance until college, and in 2020 his Iowa State team had a game scheduled that night against Oklahoma State.
But Haliburton was injured. He didn't suit up, and the Pacers don't play tonight. He will have to wait until at least 2028 to get another chance. Maybe his seventh birthday will give him that opportunity.
"In school, that was always my 'give a fun fact about yourself'," Haliburton said of being born on a leap day. He is the fourth person born on February 29 of any year to play in the NBA, joining John Chaney (1920), Chucky Brown (1968), and Vonteego Cummings (1976).
Haliburton's birthday is both a curse and a blessing. On one hand, for three out of every four years, he gets to celebrate on both February 28 and March 1. It's like two birthdays, he explained, though they are half measures.
On the other hand, he has to wait four years for a bigger celebration for his actual birthday. "I bought myself some gifts. I do that every year though," he said of his 24th celebration. "Honestly when it's not my birthday, I get two days to celebrate. So I would argue that it's just as good without my birthday, because I get two of them.
"But for this birthday this year, I bought myself more gifts than I usually would. So yeah, I celebrated accordingly," he joked. His team flew down to New Orleans in advance of a Friday battle with the Pelicans earlier today.
His past milestone birthdays have been eventful. When he turned 21, which technically happened on March 1, 2021, he wanted to test the theory of when his birthday actually was. He hoped to go to a club on February 28, or at least try to buy some alcohol. But it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, so he smartly stayed home.
Haliburton shared that's the most common question he receives from people who first learn about his birthday — they wonder when he became legally allowed to drink. Turning 16 was eventful for the Pacers superstar guard as well, but not due to February 29 shenanigans.
"On my 16th [birthday], I had to wait to get my [driver's] license. I couldn't take my driver's test before [my birthday]," Haliburton said. "And I failed my driver's test on the 29th," he added. It was a snowy day in East-Central Wisconsin, and Haliburton switched lanes in the middle of an intersection. That lost him too many points to pass the test.
"I had to retake it a couple of days later," he explained.
Haliburton's whole life has featured one-line jokes or comments about his birthday. Everyone finds it interesting and unique, so there's plenty of remarks to be made. "I've never heard of that. When I saw that, I was like 'that's pretty funny!'," Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said of Haliburton's February 29 birthday. "I'm sure he's going to have a lot of fun today."
Most players find it humorous. One who doesn't? Tyrese Haliburton, who has heard every joke under the sun about his birthday and doesn't remember a single unique, stand out line.
"They all suck, they're all corny, they're all trash," he said of the jokes. That was before his team took on the New Orleans Pelicans, and Haliburton finished with 17 points and 13 assists in a win.
That, along with his sixth real birthday, gives him reason to celebrate today.
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