Tyrese Haliburton is New York's new villain, joining Jordan, Reggie and others
Is there something really that annoying about Tyrese Haliburton?
Some New York Knicks fans celebrated their team's Game 5 win in the Eastern Conference finals by … putting a beating on a Haliburton dummy?
Haliburton is the new player they love to hate in New York. And after this series, it's easy to see why.
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Haliburton and his Indiana Pacers ended the Knicks' postseason run for the second straight season Saturday. He finished a 125-108 Game 6 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with 21 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and three steals and helped the Pacers return to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years. Haliburton's final shot of the night, a 35-footer, blew the roof off Gainbridge, all with his dad in the stands.
This season, Haliburton added his name to the basketball villains Knicks fans have been forced to stomach. Michael Jordan. Reggie Miller. Trae Young. You can even throw in Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry, who never played the Knicks in the postseason but made it a habit to put on a show in regular-season appearances.
Pascal Siakam was named the MVP of the series (a 5-4 vote against Haliburton), but Haliburton averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists and six rebounds for the series. It can be argued that Haliburton has supplanted Young as the most hated active NBA player to visit New York.
Not just because he beat the Knicks again, but because of the swagger — or lack of it, depending on who comments — he did it with.
Haliburton borrowed Miller's choking taunt in Game 1. He wore a hoodie with Miller's choking image after eliminating the Knicks last year.
Haliburton hate, though, really should be about respect. And the player who was voted as the most overrated in the league last month has given the Knicks and the NBA a lot of reasons to respect him.
Is Haliburton really a bad guy? Not even close. It's hard not to like him if you've been around him. How can you hate someone who is closer to 1990s sitcom nerd Steve Urkel than an actual bad guy? There's even a video on social media showing the similarities between Haliburton and Urkel, played by actor Jaleel White.
Un post condiviso da NBA Edits Queen (@nba.edits.queen)
'Family Matters' was a show he watched growing up when it was in syndication. Haliburton dropped an Urkel impression during an interview last year.
I got to know Haliburton during his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings. He does have some nerd about him, and I say it with all respect and appreciation.
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I remember speaking to him in 2021 when I wrote a story about players delving into Black history. The conversation was such that it was hard to believe he was only 20 years old at the time. Haliburton was thoughtful and mature.
'Growing up, I didn't read a lot of books. As I've grown up, I've started to read a little bit more,' he told me four years ago. 'That's something I want to get into more in my offseason and when I have more free time, being able to read, because I feel like there's a lot more in books than there is anything.'
But Haliburton is just eccentric enough to make Knicks fans even angrier. Not only is Haliburton in the NBA Finals, but could he also spark a resurgence in awkwardness and make it … cool?
This is the same guy who wore Prada loafers on media day with his Pacers uniform, making him look like the kid who forgot his gym shoes but still had a game to play after church.
Songs from the 'High School Musical' movies are on his playlist. He likes his hip-hop, but he refuses to skip over his musicals.
And sometimes it's hard to tell if he likes professional wrestling more than the NBA.
Haliburton smiles brightly if you bring up wrestlers who have mentioned him on social media. He's made multiple appearances on WWE television. During the offseason, don't be surprised to see Haliburton ringside at an event. Haliburton was giddy knowing that WWE's Paul 'Triple H' Levesque was at Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Haliburton is the new face of evil for New York fans. He just happens to wear a big smile and game sneakers that pay homage to a pro wrestling era before he was born.
Those who know him will say he isn't a villain in real life. But Haliburton plays one really well. Particularly against the Knicks.
(Photo of Tyrese Haliburton and Josh Hart: Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
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