Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Reveals How He Channels Love for WWE in Basketball

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is a huge wrestling fan. He's been watching the sport since 2003 and that passion helped shape the performer he has become in the NBA.

“I think I’ve just grown a reputation in our league,” Haliburton told The Athletic. “Like when we go on the road — I talk s—, I am who I am, and I think on the road it’s easy to say that I’m the bad guy and at home it’s easy to say I’m the good guy, so I think it just depends where we are. But I would say anything that’s not Indiana, I’m probably the bad guy.”  

When Haliburton hit the game-tying jumper in Game 1 of the 2025 conference finals against the New York Knicks at MSG, he wrapped his hands around his neck in his own celebration. He wanted to honor Pacers icon Reggie Miller, who sat courtside broadcasting the game for TNT Sports and made the same gesture during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks 31 years earlier.  

Haliburton loves being the villain. Even though the star is a nice and chill guy off the court, he understands that he's an entertainer -- like wrestlers are -- when NBA games are on. 

"I feel like part of our sport is entertainment, and I think all the best players are great entertainers too," Haliburton said. "People pay hard-earned money to come watch us play and be entertained. I think it’s cool when people pay to watch me win and people pay to watch me lose. That’s all super cool to me. That’s the great part of being a professional athlete."

One of the best players in the NBA, Haliburton had an incredible 2024-25 campaign for the Pacers. He averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game and made the All-NBA Third Team.

Indiana defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Knicks to advance to the 2025 NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Pacers in the NBA Finals in seven games. Haliburton, of course, tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7. 

Without Haliburton, the Pacers struggled immensely this season. They won only 19 games. 

Indiana acquired Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in the Domantas Sabonis trade in February 2022. Haliburton is averaging 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in a Pacers uniform.

A two-time All-Star, Haliburton has played in 333 regular-season games with the Kings and Pacers. He has career averages of 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

"What I’ve learned in my career is to appreciate people who are at the top of their field, whatever it is, because it’s not easy," Haliburton said. "There aren’t many people who can relate to that in different worlds. That’s what has made me appreciate wrestling even more and become an even bigger fan."

Haliburton will be entertaining basketball fans again next season. It will certainly be fun to watch. 

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