Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson, two stars of the NBA, brought their competitive spirit to the squared circle during a recent WWE SmackDown event. The historic rivalry that these two athletes share goes back to their respective days in the National Big League. The tension between the two came to a boiling point when the two faced off against each other in the playoffs.
Last season that rivalry boiled over when the Indiana Pacers took on the New York Knicks. In a freewheeling, high-scoring Eastern Conference semifinal, the Pacers bested the Knicks, winning the series in seven riveting games. Fans recall Haliburton’s iconic game-tying basket in Game 1 of the 2025 series, where he famously replicated Reggie Miller’s choke celebration. The competition has not broken the bond they created, as both players have stuck together off the court, texting each other every day.
WWE SmackDown Highlights
For the WWE event, Haliburton rolled onto the scene in spectacular fashion. He retrieved brass knuckles to help him fight dirty and secure victory in his favor as fate would have it. Brunson one-upped his move proving that their head-to-head match-up carries over from the hard court to the squared circle. The two athletes engaged in a brief stare-down at ringside, exchanging words before officials intervened to break up the escalating confrontation.
In an unexpected turn of events, Jalen Brunson partnered up with LA Knight. On that occasion, together, they mounted a valiant defense against Haliburton and Paul in an exciting run-in match. This unusual partnership added a new plot twist to their storied rivalry. The crowd erupted with excitement as they witnessed two of the world’s greatest basketball players fully engage in a much more peculiar type of contest.
The Pacers-Knicks Dynamic
Haliburton was absolutely electric for the Pacers last season. In his time there, he averaged a ridiculous 26 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. Yet, his crew’s championship quest soured with a lopsided postseason sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics in the conference finals. Through all of these unfortunate events, Haliburton continued to dream big and look ahead to bigger projects. He shared his thoughts on social media, highlighting his outfits from the season and expressing gratitude for his experiences throughout his fourth NBA campaign.
The New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers rivalry runs deep with history and tradition. Providing context like this informs the nuance of how they are engaging since. Since 1993, these two teams have met in the playoffs eight times. Together, every one of those epic matchups have created a dynamic tapestry of competition and drama that still enchants basketball lovers today.
“I mean, I’m just wearing a hoodie,” – Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton’s self-deprecating jokes about his wardrobe choice are just a glimpse at who he is as a person, competitor, and fun-loving kid in that order. He emphasized his preference for comfort while traveling:
“I like to be comfy on the plane.” – Tyrese Haliburton
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