When Jalen Brunson and his New York Knicks booked their tickets to the Eastern Conference Finals, their fans understood that the next battle would be against Tyrese Haliburton and his Indiana Pacers. They had accomplished a major milestone by defeating the defending champions, Boston Celtics.
As soon as the Knicks won Game 6, fans took to the streets to celebrate the win. During that celebration, they found an Indiana Pacers fan wearing a Tyrese Haliburton jersey. They first tried to rip the jersey off, and while he was walking away, those Knicks fans threw bags of trash at him, heckling him along the way.
This incident has caused a furore in basketball circles, with many condemning the actions of those fans. But Tyrese Haliburton decided to do one better and teamed up with Pat McAfee to make it right by him. McAfee brought on the fan, Hanz Perez, and then brought in Haliburton, who had a message for him.
I personally wanna bring you and a plus one out here to come to game four here in Indiana. I’ll bring you guys out here, put you guys up, get you guys seats in the game. The Pacers, everyone in the organization wants to make sure you are taken care of, the team is excited to meet you.
Tyrese Haliburton said to Hanz Perez
The firefighter was surprised and excited that the very same star whose jersey he courageously brandished in front of brash Knicks fans is going to help him have a day. He will be flying out to watch Game 4, which will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana.
Ben Stiller commends Tyrese Haliburton for making Pacers fan’s day
Ever since it was revealed that the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton fan, Hanz Perez, who was heckled and harassed by Knicks fans, was a firefighter, the heat has increased on them. Even some of their own die-hard fans are not happy with how some have destroyed the image of that fan base. Actor Ben Stiller decided to address the issue and commended the Pacers star for his gesture.
I appreciate this by Halliburton. No one should ever treat fans of any team like this. NY is better than this. And this man is a firefighter.
Ben Stiller wrote on X
Stiller did not appreciate how those fans portrayed the Knicks and, most importantly, New York in a bad light. That is why he, as a Knicks fan, appreciated what Haliburton did to ensure Hanz Perez was taken care of.
Stiller does not want his fellow New Yorkers to treat any opposing fans like that. It was disrespectful and did not portray New York as a city.
Knicks-Pacers rivalry could blow up NBA ratings
After the New York Knicks defeated the defending champion Boston Celtics, Karl-Anthony Towns did his part to bring rival Mets-Yankees fans together to troll the fallen champions. It was the best way to troll their rivals.
But NBA executives would have been happier had the Celtics fought the Knicks through seven games. That rivalry had the potential to shift the focus from the West. But even then, this upcoming Indiana Pacers and Knicks rivalry showdown in the Eastern Conference Finals can do the same.
The WWE face-off between Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson was great entertainment. Now it will play out in real time starting May 21st. If both teams manage to keep the battles close, expect NBA ratings to go through the roof.
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