Brandon Jackson

I’m done fighting it. Tyrese Haliburton has earned every bit of my respect and I’m a fan.

I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t expect this to happen, but here we are. Haliburton put my team out of the playoffs, and here I am singing his praises.

I have no choice but to sing his praises, because he went into Madison Square Garden, dropped 31 and 11, hit an unbelievable game tying jumper to send it into overtime, hit the Knicks fans with the “choke” celebration, and hand the ball to Karl Anthony Towns so the clock could run out.

Just an all-around, “I’m coming into your crib and doing whatever I want” performance. And I absolutely love when that happens. That’s the type of basketball I want to watch. I want to watch Haliburton and these Pacers press full court, get in your face, and dare you to do something about it.

The Cavaliers definitely weren’t tough enough to do something about it. For 3 years straight they haven’t been able do anything about it, but this isn’t about them.

Haliburton and most of this Indiana Pacers team was drafted while I was not paying attention to the NBA as much. I remember the Hailburton for Sabonis trade happening when it did, but it did not mean anything to me when it happened. 

I say that to say, I was extremely late to the Haliburton party. I saw the numbers, I saw the accolades but didn’t really appreciate him or the game. The most noteworthy thing I had seen him do was show up on WWE Smackdown.

He was on the Olympic team for a reason, but I still didn’t believe.

I believe now.

I’ve watched the highlights of game winning shots, I’ve seen the tough buckets, and the slick passes.

But most importantly I saw how he went into New York City, and ripped the heart out of 19,000 people. I love that. And I respect that.