In his third season with the Indiana Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton’s career took a massive leap. He not only made his first All-NBA team but also had his second All-Star appearance and led the league in assists. With this success came more time in the spotlight, and along with it, an intriguing observation about how he communicates.
During a podcast appearance on JJ Redick’s “The Old Man and The Three,” listeners noticed a distinct change in Haliburton’s voice at specific moments. The comments section of the show highlighted these shifts, making them some of the most replayed sections of the interview. Additionally, his dual tones were noticeable during a postgame news conference after the NBA All-Star Game, where Haliburton’s varying voices were showcased to a national audience.
Despite these instances being some of the first times a mass audience noticed Haliburton’s voice changes, he has long been aware of his varying tones. When asked about it on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Haliburton admitted that he often doesn’t notice the shift in his voice until after watching podcasts. He claimed that these changes are not intentional but happen naturally sometimes.
The question of why Haliburton’s voice shifts sparked curiosity, leading to an interview with Dr. Michael M. Johns, the director of the University of Southern California’s Voice Center. Dr. Johns, a specialist in laryngology, suggested that the rough quality in Haliburton’s voice could be due to changes happening at his vocal cords. He compared it to the sound alteration of a guitar string with irregular vibrations.
Dr. Johns speculated that Haliburton might be compensating for vocal fatigue by adjusting his resonance or vocal tract shape. Athletes like Haliburton use their voices extensively, often loudly, to communicate across the court amidst loud noises. This frequent and forceful use of their voices can lead to vocal injuries such as nodules or swelling, resulting in a rough quality to the voice.
With the Eastern Conference finals approaching, fans can expect to hear Haliburton’s dual tones when the Pacers face off against the Boston Celtics. The game, scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, will likely provide another platform for Haliburton’s unique vocal phenomenon to be observed by a broad audience.
While Tyrese Haliburton’s voice changes may be unintentional and subconscious, they have raised intriguing questions about vocalization in athletes and the potential impact of vocal strain on their voices. As his career continues to thrive, so too will the curiosity surrounding the mystery of his dual tones, adding another layer to his already captivating persona on and off the court.