I am not a huge basketball fan, but I do try to catch the play offs. At best I’ve been a lukewarm Knicks fan for the past 25 years, can you blame me? Back in the day, when Michael Jordon was playing, I was big for the Knicks. We’d have people over and watch the game and my New York attitude and pride would come out. This year, I’m still a lukewarm Knicks fan, though I love seeing them in the playoffs.
In April, I saw a story where, as NBC news reports, about Tyrese Haliburton, point guard of the Indiana Pacers,
“Of the 90 players who voted for most overrated in The Athletic’s poll, 14.4 percent chose Tyrese Haliburton, or about 13 players overall in a league of 450.”
Tyrese has led the Pacers to the Conference Championship this year (2025). Does this sound overrated?
Now, this is not a poll of journalists or even fans, this is poll of your peers of what they think of you.
Let me ask you a question, if you and your youth pastors were to vote for most overrated youth pastor of you area, who would you vote for? I bet a name just popped in your head. Don’t worry, it’s not a sin.
Now, if there were a poll for most underrated youth pastor youth pastor in your area, what name comes to mind? You’re own, maybe? Also not a sin.
The question then becomes, if the poll voted you most overrated and became public in your community, what would you do about it? How would you respond?
I find it no coincidence that 9 months ago, Tyrese did the show 10 Things I Can’t Live Without and the first thing he said that he can’t live without is his Bible.
Now, am i saying that his fellow players are putting him down because of his faith? Absolutely not, but I do not think it’s coincidental that a believer in Christ is being called underrated, the Bible is full of characters who were underrated,
Consider David who was not even invited to the King selection party
So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
I Samuel 16: 11
David was not even in position to be overrated, until he met Goliath,
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
I Samuel 17: 41-44
When David came to deliver bread, David’s brothers accused him of coming down just to watch the battle. They, like many others overlooked him until he stepped up and challenged Goliath.
in fact, Tyrese and David have a lot in common,
After knowing he was voted most overrated, he went out and played a heck of game.
He tweeted out, “Overrate that”
Then you have David, he approaches Goliath, and his mockery and says,
“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” I Samuel 17:45-47
I can’t help but believe thsat David’s tweet would resemble Haliburtons’ with David holding the head of Goliath in his hands “Overlook that!” or “Underrated?”, tagging all his brothers in it. Once again, David had done nothing up to that point so he couldn’t be overrated until later when he became King.
I think Tyrese loved being called overrated as much as David loved being overlooked. Both said, “Watch this.” Tyrese has said that the more smack people talk the more it motivates him and I think that should a believers position, “Go ahead overlook us, think that the God we serve is overrated, but let’s just wait and see what God will do.”
Even Jesus was underrated in the beginning of His ministry,
Even Jesus was underestimated: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” John 1:46
and later in his ministry was accused of being overrated,
“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. – Matthew 27: 42-44
Can your hear them chanting, “Overrated!!” Tyrese did and responded with buckets. Jesus also responded and put his haters to shame. Overrate that!
I think we’ve all been misjudged, underrated or written off even though we were doing our best. But I think believers should always take the position,
“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7b
Let your heart and your actions do the talking for you.
Do I think Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers will win the NBA title because he’s a Christian? No. I think, if they do win, it will be because of his heart, talent and the will to win.
As side note, Brock Purdy, picked last in the NFL Draft and has carried the title Mr. Irrelevant, just got paid 265 million dollars for 5 years. Purdy is also a believer. Coincidence? God has a way of making a point.
If you feel lie people overlook you or that people think you’re overrated,
Stay faithful – Galatians 6:9 – Don’t grow weary in doing good.
Stay humble – Let your actions speak louder than your critics.
Stay kind – Matthew 5:11–12 – Even when people say false things, rejoice
Stay on course – and let God do the rest.
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