Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton certainly have a history on the basketball court, but its their 2024 confrontation in the ring that’s starting to make waves.
Brunson and Haliburton, whose Pacers knocked off the Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday, met each other at WWE Smackdown at Madison Square Garden in June of last year. With the Knicks one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, NBA fans are noticing that WWE may have foreshadowed an incredible NBA playoff matchup.
Haliburton appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday to talk about the encounter and delved into his own history with WWE. He has appeared at several shows throughout the years and has always been a big fan.
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If Brunson and the Knicks do their part and knock off the Celtics, there will be a wild, full-circle moment for the two players soon.
Here’s what to know about Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton and WWE.
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Did WWE predict a Pacers-Knicks Eastern Conference Finals?
NBA fans are noticing that WWE may have predicted a matchup between the Pacers and Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. In June of last year, Brunson and Haliburton had a friendly confrontation at Friday Night Smackdown at Madison Square Garden.
Watch out, @TyHaliburton22! @jalenbrunson1 is watching you 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4bHSyz1HcS
— WWE (@WWE) June 29, 2024
As Haliburton made his way to the ring with Logan Paul, he spotted Brunson in the audience and stepped towards him. Brunson folded his arms and gave a shake of the head before Haliburton kept moving. The two faced off inside the ring later that night.
Tyrese Haliburton discusses WWE, Logan Paul connections on Pat McAfee Show
Haliburton appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday and discussed his WWE exchange with Brunson, as well as some of the other connections he’s made through wrestling. He joked that Logan Paul (despite being from Cleveland) and Triple H have an “open invite” to the Eastern Conference Finals, after Haliburton’s father was banned from attending Pacers games for the rest of the season.
This is long term storytelling @TyHaliburton22 😂#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/vap4z53FZB
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 14, 2025
Watch: Jalen Brunson confronts Tyrese Haliburton on SmackDown (June 2024)
After their initial meet up, Brunson and Haliburton squared off inside the ring in support of their wrestlers, with the former on the side of LA Knight and the latter with Paul. Here’s the full video:
Has Tyrese Haliburton appeared at WWE shows before?
Haliburton is no stranger to WWE shows as an NBA player and has expressed in the past that he’s always been a big fan.
Haliburton appeared at the NXT championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams in Orlando, Florida in September 2024 and played a part in their contract negotiations. The Pacers guard had the contract of the match in his hand and had to make sure Page and Williams signed on the dotted line. Haliburton also introduced some of his Pacers teammates in the crowd, including Myles Turner, and poked fun at Magic fans.
“I would boo too if I had to be an Orlando Magic fan.”@TyHaliburton22 came with some backup in the form of some @Pacers teammates and then let the NXT crowd hear it! 😂#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/bvfeXNw7Ja
— WWE (@WWE) September 18, 2024
Haliburton was also invited to introduce Triple H at the Royal Rumble pre-show in Indianapolis on Jan. 31 of this year. The WWE Hall of Famer hinted that Haliburton himself could be featured in the main event, but a scheduling conflict with a game versus the Hawks got in the way.
What time did you say that game vs the Hawks starts @TyHaliburton22? #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/Vc8zZYY3xf
— Triple H (@TripleH) January 31, 2025
