Tyrese Haliburton on how the Pacers DOMINATED the Cavs 👀 | The Pat McAfee Show

Tyrese Haliburton on how the Pacers DOMINATED the Cavs 👀 | The Pat McAfee Show

And the Indiana Pacers are exactly who we said they were all season. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, young superstar who has found himself in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. Leader of this Indiana Pacers team. Ladies and gentlemen, last night had 30 plus points. 31 I believe. Tyrese Hallebertton. Tyrese, congrats, dude. I always appreciate the intro. Always appreciate it. I don’t know who made this shirt if you’re associated with it, but it got sent to the office like two days ago. So, I figured I’d wear it just to show respect to you and the Pacers because it feels like everybody’s been talking about you and the team the same exact way. And I saw you give the interview last night after the game about outside noise. The only thing that matters is how we believe in there. You guys definitely use that as chips, right? I mean, all 11 people that were predicting this series had you guys lose it for ESPN. I assume the same from TNT. Do you use that? Does coach Carl bring that up? How often do you guys chat about the disrespect outside of maybe uh you and the fan base? Oh, all the time. I think it’s uh it’s all the time. We it’s fuel we use. I think we have a lot of guys who have been overlooked at some point in their career. Um you know, I think the majority our starting lineup, you look at it, Andrew Near is a second round pick. Aaron Nmith gets traded and they Bleacher Report puts out a meme of calling him a paperclip when he gets traded. Uh Miles Turner was in has been in tread rumors his whole career. Um you know Pascal’s you know started the game late and you know has been a big big uh big addition for us and then we got a lot of guys like that who can all relate on that level. We’ve all been overlooked at some some point. We just you know we use it as fuel to you know try to do something special. Do you think Kevin Pritchard’s looking for guys that are dogs? Like do you think that is your culture? Do you think you guys have more dogs than most teams in that in that locker room? Uh, I think he’s looking for guys who play the right way and are willing to play our way. You know, I think we got a lot of guys who just fit our style of play. Um, you hear people talk about how fast we play, how hard we play, and I think that’s a buyin from everybody. even our guys, you know, at the even our 2-way guys who, you know, aren’t even allowed to suit up right now. How hard they’re going uh in their workouts, you know, even though they can’t play and helping us with scout team and all that stuff is just it goes through our whole organization. So, uh definitely a special group we’re part of and, you know, doing some special things right now. Coach Carlile looks like Jim Carrey. Uh certainly certainly looks like Jim Carrey. He’s had success in different places. He doesn’t really get too high ever. really doesn’t feel like he’s not too Last night his big thing was we’re eight games away, eight wins away from NBA championship. He’s like, “Congratulations, you’ve earned it. Uh we’re eight wins away now from an NBA title. Pacers on three, one, two, three Pacers.” That was basically like the call up in the locker room for I don’t know if he’s speaking before that. Then when he talks to the media, it’s the same exact thing. It’s like when you guys are up 3-1, he didn’t. He was like, “We don’t care about being up 3-1 because Cavaliers don’t care that we’re up 3-1.” Is he always just he is uh just always blinders on type guy? What is coach Carlile like dayto-day for you guys? Yeah, I think uh he is a very super serious person. Uh I try to I try to joke as much as I can to try to get him to, you know, crack a smile or laugh from time to time. Uh during playoff time, it’s hard. You know, if I can get him to smile or laugh during the playoffs, it’s pretty it’s pretty special moment for me. Something I cherish. So, uh, you know, I know he’s he’s the guy who always is setting the tone with, you know, his sternness and being serious and, you know, I feel like it’s it’s kind of my job to, you know, I’m the point guard, so I got to kind of be the coach on the floor to share that messaging, but at the same time, you know, keep keep everybody loose and having fun. Let them know it’s just basketball, so let’s just go out there and hoop. Yeah. I think you said that whenever uh somebody was saying something, you’re like, “It’s just basketball. It’s not that serious.” And then you just kind of kept it moving. But basketball is obviously something that this city and this state love. I mean they this is a basketball state. Before Pton as um but before Pton Manning got here, this was a racing and basketball state, a racing and basketball city. Obviously the Indy500 is here every single year, the largest sporting event on Earth. And all the indie cars are based out of here. So the Indie drivers are actually like famous here in Indianapolis. The Pacers had obviously been something that’s been beloved and the Indiana Hooers are beloved. So then Payton comes in here and kind of turns it around. But there’s a time coming up now where I think the Indy500’s happening during the day and then there’s an Eastern Conference Finals game happening at night and I assume that would be to the detriment of us. Every Indiana person I talked to like that’s the greatest day in the history double dip. That’s the greatest day in the history of Indiana. Let’s talk about you being back in the Eastern Conference Finals. Coach Carlile has won a title before with Dallas, so obviously he has been there and he has seen it before and he can obviously say those things for you getting a chance to experience the Eastern Conference Finals last year and then getting a chance to do it again. What have you guys learned? Are you like a more mature team, you think, from all the experiences from last year or does that not really matter? You just kind of got to focus on today. Yeah. No, I think uh we’ve grown a lot over the last year. Um you know, I think last year we were just happy to be in the playoffs. Like honestly, it was just like playing with house money at that point. Uh you we were just happy to be there. And I think this year we came into the year with real uh internal expectations uh to get back to here and you know beyond and win a championship. That’s been our goal all year and you know we’re eight games eight wins away uh from doing that. But we know we know there’s a lot of work in front of us. But um you know after we won yesterday, I’m sitting in a locker room just kind of you know letting it like feeling it you know because I don’t want to take winning for granted. You know that’s something that I’ve heard a lot from my vets in my time in the league is don’t take it for granted you know it’s special stuff happening and you know a couple years ago I was at the draft lottery representing the Pacers and I was sitting there I was like steaming. I was like I do not want to be here right now. you know, so the fact that the lottery happened the other day and it just so happened to be on on TV, you know, I didn’t even know it was happening that day. Um, that’s pretty that’s a pretty cool feeling. Something I don’t want to take for granted. Last year, you know, I got hurt after, you know, in the middle in game two. So, um, you know, I’m just excited to, you know, be in the Eastern Conference Finals and get the chance to, you know, get to play, you know, cuz last year getting hurt in game two was frustrating. So, I’m looking forward to, uh, you know, hopefully having a, you know, healthy series and being able to, you know, compete. Yeah, you’re only going to get a chance to win so many playoff series. You know, they only come so many. So, you got to enjoy those moments whenever they come. And also, nobody’s going to remember it if you don’t win the next series. So, if you don’t enjoy that moment right there, you potentially miss it all. Like last year, nobody really got to enjoy the Pacers season in the miraculous playoff run because of how it ended legitimately. And then right into the Olympics, then we’re right into the season. It’s like nobody really took in how awesome of a run last year was. I’m happy to hear you have a little bit more presence about you to enjoy the good times because who knows if they’re ever going to come again. They will hopefully. You never know what’s going to take. But let’s talk about that series a little bit. Ty has a question for you. Tyrese. Yeah, Tyrese. There was a stat going around last night that said the Cavs are 0 and5 against you guys at home this year and 36 and5 against everyone else in the NBA. And Pat mentioned it before he came on about how, you know, I know you guys don’t give a about it, but ESPN, all the NBA analysts, you know, no one picked you guys to win and all that kind of stuff. Why do you think you had the Cavs number and and what is it um about like you guys as a team that matched up so well with them? Cuz coming in, you know, everyone was talking about how good the Cavs were all season and and no one really, you know, except maybe with the exception of a few people and you guys in the locker room expected you guys to win the series. Yeah, I don’t know if it was necessarily like we have their number, we have them super figured out or anything. They’re a hell of a team and they uh they do so many things so well. Uh but I think that our focus was just coming in and being us, you know, playing Pacers basketball. We don’t really I feel like that’s the most important thing every series is just being who we are. So, you know, no matter how teams guard us, we’re going to run, get up and down, dictate the pace, and then defensively, if we can get enough stops to get to be able to play in transition even more, I think that really plays our uh our favor. So, I thought we did a great job of getting stops, getting out and running. You know, the only game we lost this series, they dictated the pace, they dictated the physicality. Um, and you know, that was a recipe for disaster for us in game three. And I thought we did a great job responding in game four by getting stops. you know, they had what, 39 points at halftime. Uh, we had a hell of a shotmaking game that game, you know, definitely. Uh, big hoop. Yeah. Yeah. Big hoop that night. Uh, but I feel like a lot of it was we were getting stops, getting out transition, and then obviously playing in gamebridge with the crowd behind us, you know, the rim just it felt like you throw it in the ocean, you know? So, um, I think I think the big biggest part for us was just Oh, this is it. This is ESPN. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. He just froze Tyrese cuz we’re talking too much about the Pacers. We knew that. I’m not going to say it’s Adam Silver because I think Adam Silver likes Tyrese for sure. I think he likes the Pacers and Indiana. Yeah, but this is definitely the networks, you know, being like, “Yeah, these guys. We don’t need anybody liking. We don’t need anybody liking this guy.” I did see people tweeting last night, uh, not an NBA fan, but I have adopted the Pacers because of our show and because of Tyrese and everything like that. I also saw some Pacers fans saying, uh, you should get some of the other guys on the show. Would love to. Miles Turner is a dog. TJ McConnell we’ve been trying to for legit two years. Yeah, we’ve you know he’s been on team since like he’s been on team like five years. That’s not true. I didn’t think so. They were complaining. They were complaining. No, they weren’t complaining. They were like continue to showc us to continue to showcase this Pacers team because nobody really talks about joining us again, ladies and gentlemen. Tyrese Hallebertton. You were talking about uh game four where you were able to respond after. Yeah, that was the network shutting you down, brother. They didn’t want you to be too liked. They didn’t want you to be too cuz you were speaking in three different voices there. They didn’t want any of them to be liked. I think you did catch a different one. Yeah. Yeah. A mixture of the two. Yeah. Yeah. It’s like, you know, and then what’s that uh graph ven diagram? The ven diagram. You got the the wine over here, then you got the other over here, and then every once in a while those things, uh, you know, like good tag team wrestling, they come together and they’re putting They teach you that they didn’t teach you that West Virginia. No. No. Well, I didn’t West I learned a lot of West Virginia. Tag team wrestling. I learned a lot. I learned a lot of West Virginia. Well, not tag team wrestling. I’m talking more about the ven diagram, but okay. You saw me draw it, brother. Okay. I might not be able to read the music, but I can certainly play it. Shout out to, you know, Nick Cannon in that entire thing. But like whenever, you know, uh, you have those voices. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You just Yeah. Great movie. Drum line. Drum line. Hell of a movie. I didn’t like, you know, and I don’t know what the head guy is named in that entire world or whatever. The bos, the coach, the boss, whatever. The head of the P1. Yeah. I appreciate him kind of, you know, laying laying it all the good coaching and everything, but when I thought they shooting them up for the biggest game. Bingo. And they had to and they knew they had to because when he Yeah. Well, yeah, there was a momenture. Yeah. One band, one sound, but that guy has a different sound. He does. Yeah. Maybe you can’t read the music because they weren’t able to keep up with him. Nonetheless, you said in game four uh you guys were able to dictate the tempo and control it and that’s kind of how you guys play. That is when you were at your best and you talked about that game three where Cleveland kind of did that uh to you guys and won by 40 or whatever the case was. I’m really happy that we didn’t have a show the next day like uh that Yeah, that happened on a Friday, you know, we get away from that. Go my focus was backlash, you know, after after that game, you know, let’s not do this too much. I’m getting PTSD. Yeah. My fault. My focus though. My focus is on backlash after uh after that. I don’t even know we had a game three. Just on to the next one. Yeah. Yeah. Well, or media in game three. Yeah. And also media or media. Uh I don’t know if that was your decision or if it was team decision. Nonetheless, love that we are moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals. You talk about that game three where you lose by that massive amount. One guy had 40 points in that game and he was spectacular to watch. Con man has a question for you. Tyrese. Yeah, Tyrese, first of all, thank you for calling yesterday and checking in on me after the Tatum news. That was very nice. You said gentlemen said you said a prayer immediately. That was a that was a classy move. Class A, if you will. Uh, but Donovan Mitchell, Pat mentioned it. He was unbelievable uh when he was playing for the series. Obviously, he was banged up, too. You guys had a little moment after the game. You were covering your mouth as you were talking to him, so the lip readers couldn’t really decipher what you were saying. What was that conversation like? Was it something along the lines of, “Hey, Cleveland’s not that far from Indianapolis. You come and team up with us, we could really run this next year again.” Or what was that? Would be a great Pacer. Would be great. Would be a great It feels like he has everything. That would be a great pacer. Already in the Midwest, he played for Utah, so we know what that’s like. So, he come to Indie, he he would love it. But what what was that? Uh what’s that like? We We have more black people than Utah. No, I’m just kidding. That’s not what we’re talking about. That’s not what we were talking about. I’ll take my fault. Okay. Yeah, he’s from Boston. I get it. That’s what your immediate thought. What the hell? But that No, not not at all. I completely disagree strongly. But what was that back and forth like? And where where did you guys kind of leave it? Did you talk to him after the game or was it just on the court there? Uh just on the floor there. Um I’ve gotten to know him over the last couple years uh through CIA. We have the same agency. Uh, our marketing agents are really good friends. So, uh, me and Don have got to know each other pretty well. Um, just I think it was just a show of respect. I think I got a lot of love for Don. Obviously, you guys saw when the the crowd was trying to get on me there and uh was at game two and he was quieting down the crowd when they were chanting overrated at me. Um yeah, I just wanted to share with them that I couldn’t tell him at that moment or you know during the series, but it meant a lot to me, you know, cuz uh definitely a peer of mine that I have a lot of respect for and um you know, he had a hell of a series. He’s an unbelievable player. So, uh just a show of respect there and a guy that I know um that I’ll see a lot throughout my career, you know, being in the same division, same conference. And so, just love competing against that guy. Great dude, great competitor. Uh and it was a lot of fun. He gets a lot of heat, too. I tweeted uh I tweeted about it was fun to watch him. Like it was unbelievable to watch this guy this series. I don’t get to watch as many Cavs game cuz just like you guys they don’t get a lot of respect in the national prime time uh kind of slots throughout the season. And then all anybody responded was like free throw merchant. This guy’s It’s like what are we watching the same are we watching the same guy? He gets a lot of heat too. Why do you think guys like you guys like him maybe don’t get as much respect? You think it’s smaller market stuff? I mean, it’s not even that though. It’s like I think it’s just sometimes there are just miserable sports fans in every sport. True. You know, there’s just people in every sport who like my if my team’s not doing well, I got to talk negative about somebody else. Or, hey, he’s doing well against my team. I got to talk negative about him. Like, that’s just how sports and competition work. I mean, we all everybody has critics. You have critics, you know, on your show. I have critics in what I do. Jesus had critics. We all got critics. So, like Amen. Jesus did, didn’t he? A lot of critics still does. More than most. So, you know, it’s all it’s all part of it. Could you imagine if there was social media when Jesus was doing his stuff? Oh my gosh. The amount of his mentions. Mhm. That’d be ridiculous. He he turning all the water into wine. You know how many retweets that would have got at a wedding? Just like Oh my god. You’re right. Cuz we see O’s the mentalist like predict a number or something like that. I couldn’t even imagine what Jesus’s content would be like. Jesus, we’re out of We’re out of wine. What do we do? What about the bread? He did something with bread, too. Yeah. Yeah. Basically took like three fish and three loaves of breads and was like, “This isn’t going to feed anybody. How about I boom make it into 500 fish and 500 loaves.” Oh my god. Retweet. Retweet. Retweet. I mean, that would Oh A lot of people would be I saw I saw him pause it and put all those fish in prison. Yeah. Bingo. That would be the the opposite side would be I don’t believe it. The water I mean the walking. Yeah. Walking up. Yeah. Jeez. People would think there was glass underneath something. Oh, he’s on uh one of one of those uh the You see the strings holding him up. You can see the the wire. This is why Chris Angel’s the hate he gets is He doesn’t get hate. Please, I don’t think we should be putting Chris Angel directly in the Jesus Christ conversation. Oh, really? Angel. Okay. Is that right? I’m saying for the Chris Angel, who we are a fan of, I don’t think this is the right time to insert him into this convo. But with that being said, what is the sandbar? That’s like whatever. That’s what people would say. You see the sand bar? He’s walking on it the whole way. Yeah. And that’s why, you know, that’s why people say, uh, I could walk on water and people would say it’s because I can’t swim. You need to just keep going, Tyrese. Don’t listen to any of these people. You know, I will say though, you shooting threes, you’re a much better three-point shooter than anybody gives you credit for, I think. And what? Like, do you agree? Have you always been this way or have you worked on that? cuz I feel like for point guard that is a great weapon to have especially because how much you got to move and then obviously drive, dish, pass, get the ball back. Feels like being able to dribble, being able to pass and being able to shoot a three are like the three most important things for a point guard. Have you had to work on your three or has it always been there? Yeah, I mean I have to work on it every day. Uh I mean coming into last night I had been shooting the ball awful all playoffs from three. So, you know, good to see a couple go down and uh that second quarter, you know, the game had a chance to get ugly there and, you know, I saw the first one go in, they just they just felt good from there and uh you know, guys kept finding me open. So, just trying to, you know, make the right play. But, um yeah, I mean, I feel like I I’ve shot over 40%, you know, for the majority of of my career going back to college and high school. So, uh you know, I just continue to do what I do. It’s not the prettiest. It’s not the prettiest, you know, but That’s that’s how you get there. You think how how do you just were always shoot like that? Were you small? No. Like if you if you if you find clips of me from like early in high school, I used to have to catch the ball, dip it to my hip, then raise it back and shoot it. And then I met this coach, Coach B, who was my my AU coach all grow um freshman year, all throughout high school, now you know, runs my AU program. He used to have me do the mic and drill every day. I don’t know if you guys know what that is, but like you shoot layups. You shoot layups on both sides. You grab the rebound, you shoot it. Grab the arm and shoot it. And the way most people teach it, you grab the rebound, you dip the ball, you shoot it, right? And you dip it. And that’s just not human nature. But for me, he used he used to put his arm out like in my stomach and if I dipped the ball, he would just smack it and get like make me go like kick it across the gym. I have to go pick it up. So like now that he would force me to keep it above my shoulders and then that force that I feel like now if somebody gives me a pass high I don’t have to dip it um you know and that allows me to get it off um more efficiently. But yeah I used to have a ugly ugly like hitch and dip to it. But you know it it all comes it all comes with some work. Yeah but if it falls who cares? I think that has been the that’s kind of been the emmo of the NBA for a long time. A lot of different styles. Obviously, you got like the perfect form, guys. And then there’s the uh Amari maybe. Shawn Marion. Yeah. Had like Yeah, it was just absurd. But if it was falling, who cares? I also saw Cat Williams. Did you see him with lethal shooter? No, he didn’t miss. He’s chest passing that thing and it’s splash splash. Cat Williams might be Hold on. Yeah, he might be looking for a 12 day or whatever it is you guys have. Uh call it a 10day 10day, brother. I think it should be 12 though for Cat because uh Cat is an absolute dog. You guys will want him in the room. I think you guys will want him in there. He’s been working um with Lethal Shooter. Okay, so let’s look ahead the Eastern Conference Finals. You’re going to watch alongside all of us. I assume Celtics Nicks. Celtics certainly have enough to get the job done. I think they are the champions for a reason. Losing Tatum to an Achilles not only for this playoff run, but all of next year sucks. The ABS. Hey Connor, we want to let you and all Celtics fans know just like Tyrie said yesterday to you. Sucks. Sucks for the game. Sucks for the Celtics. Sucks all all together. You would I think you said something to Connor, but would you like to say something about the Tatum thing? You’re obviously a big fan of his. That sucks though. Yeah, obviously. Uh, man, sucks to see. He was really hooping, playing really well, and uh yeah, I think it’s I mean, I think everybody in the in the basketball world just hates to see that happen. You know, he’s had a hell of a year. um you know, he’s been such a staple for the Celtics organization, for the league, and so hate to see that happen, but you know, uh prayers up for him and uh feel like, you know, he got surgery already and you know, he’s going to heal and come back to be the the the same guy he is hopefully. So, um yeah, man, hate to see that happen. That sucks. It absolutely sucks for all of basketball, especially with the reigning champs. But I still think have enough. But I saw a lot of Knicks fans showing up in my comments last night basically saying they’re waiting on us. The world is Tone has a question for you. Yeah, Tyrese, let’s let’s just say, you know, the Knicks are the favorites to move on and play you guys in Eastern Conference Finals. I don’t know if you know anything about long-term storytelling. Uh we do over here. Um and so does the WWE. And they predicted the Eastern Conference Finals right here. Boom. Oh, wait a minute, Lane. Shoot him off. We might need to get some security out here again. No, it’s not. That’s for shoot. Um, how do you feel about instead of doing a jump ball to start the game, a no holes bar New York style city street fight uh to decide who gets ball first or just a lock up or lock or just a lock up, you know, maybe just lock up. I think that might be a I think that might be a time where, you know, I uh might fake an injury and they got to find a replacement and James Johnson comes out to to represent the Indiana Pacers. So, uh I think I think that’s where we’re that’s probably where we’ll have to go if that’s if that’s the case. But Log Logan text me last night after the game and I was like, “Man, sorry to do it sorry to do that to your city.” Uh and he was like, “Man, this is crazy. You got you and Jaylen were with us in the garden.” And I was like, “Yeah, let me know if you want to come to a game.” So, see if Logan or uh Logan or Mr. H would like to come to a game here in Indiana. They got an open invite. I got seats courtside cuz you know Pop still ain’t coming to the game. So, they’re more than more than welcome to to to to come to come join and and uh keep the storytelling going. I hope we get a chance to see them here in Indianapolis. Obviously, they would be welcome. Mr. H has a thousand things going on. So does Logan Paul, but I think they should at least take a victory lap on what you know they potentially had come together. You just brought up your dad. How’s he been through this entire thing? Is he starting to enjoy watching it away from the arena or is he yearning to get back in there so he can let the people know? I think he’s uh I think he’s enjoying watching it from the house. Um you know, he watched it. They had a little watch party at my house last night. Him and my mom and and Jade and over here at the crib. Um I called him after the game and the whole locker I I have a video I can send you. Uh the whole locker room was got on the phone with them. Everybody was like free pops to us backwards, you know. So, um, you know, the the league left the league left it open. They said foreseeable future. So, we don’t know what the foreseeable future really. I don’t know what that means. So, we’ll see what what ends up happening. Uh, but yeah, I’m sure he would love to get back in the building. I’m sure he would get a uh he would probably get an ovation if he not just probably. Yeah, they should at that point with the game. I think at that point with the whole with the whole WWE thing, I think he needs to they need to like stone cold glass shatter Pops walk through the tunnel. That would be that’d be pretty throws up the tip. And he would live up for the m he would live up to the moment, too. I mean, let’s not get it twisted here. Pops, don’t get him started. Yeah, he he’s already he’s got a plan already if he’s coming. Maybe a t-shirt gun, you know, with free Pops shirts in there. Pang pow. The boys Maybe him and Mr. Maybe him and Mr. Mr. Grace could come out to to DX. Are you ready? Bing bing. [Applause] That’d be kind of sick. And then your dad just comes out. Where’s Adam Silver at? Goes right up to Adam Silver. That would be that’d be awesome. All right, last thing for me. LeBron put out a tweet about you. You talked about LeBron. He talked about you uh after the Olympic experience. Obviously, you’re a young lad on that Olympic team. They’re expecting you to become if not be the next like leader of team United States of America and maybe you win four gold medals in this. There’s chance with how young you are in the entirety. But I think you build up a relationship with a lot of guys on that team. LeBron being one of them. There’s a photo of you two flexing your gold medals at the end. But that last sentence there, uh, that boy nice, very complimentary. Uh, your dad read that and was like, “Thank you. I agree.” And even more someone everyone would love to play with. Do you get a sense about that as a point guard that that’s a big deal? Because like you talk about being a coach on the field in our world, you’re also like the quarterback out there and it feels like the point guard has to be wellliked by his teammates. I feel like the point guard has to be look out for his teammates before he looks out for himself. Is that kind of your mindset? Do you think you’re like a throwback style point guard, which is why maybe LeBron and the other boys enjoy your style of play? Uh, I just feel like I’m maybe part of a maybe a little bit of a dying breed in our league. Uh, I feel like I’m, you know, a true pass first point guard. You know, I feel like that’s not uh as common these days. Um, but I just try to play the game the right way, man. Try to, you know, I want to play the right way and I want to win. That’s the most important thing for me. Uh, so um I’m sure it’s easy said people would want to play with me. Yeah. If we’re if we’re winning, I’m sure people would love to play uh alongside alongside me. Um, but I think our group, just a group in our group in general, I think we have a group that people enjoy to watch, people enjoy to cheer for. I think that’s why we got, you know, our fans here in Indiana love getting behind this group. And um, you know, we’re getting people like like you out out of uh, you know, used to the Pacers kind of kept at arms distance, but we’re bringing you back in. You know, you’re back in. And that’s happening with a lot of people out there, and that’s that’s cool to see. And, um, yeah, the Braun thing was super super cool. We texted back and forth last night. Um, you know, there’s got a lot I’ve grown a lot of cool relationships, you know, from from that Olympic experience and uh it’s been uh it’s been really cool. But yeah, we’re not done. We still got a lot to go. Okay. Let LeBron know next time you text him. We appreciate the hell out of him for the conversation. Conversation conversation. I’ll make sure I let him know. Yeah, please. I’ve not talked to him since then, but please let him know. So, I’ve tried to say it publicly, so maybe it’ll make way to him. We are very thankful for the LeBron conversation, and we are If you saw it earlier, we ran the clip from the Smackdown before Rumble when you came out with me and Michael Cole and it’s like I am clearly, you know, and you’re nowhere near the tallest guy on the court. You MB look at look how big you are. Look at look just look how tall you are. I don’t want to call you like abnormal, but you get it. You NBA guys uh are a special special type of athlete. And uh what you and the Pacers are doing has been nothing short of magical here in this city. We appreciate the hell out of it. Enjoy your day. Tell the family. Tell Jade we said what’s up and uh thank you for making time. Yeah. Appreciate you guys. Pat, all I know is you better come to our conference finals game. Okay. That’s all I know. Yeah. Yeah. Got nothing but time. Nothing. No. No. No. No. No. Yeah. Yeah. No one got nothing but time. You better be at the game. It’s race day, man. I Yeah. Game three is pacers and racers. Race in the morning. Yeah. You can make game three happen. You can’t make game three happen. You can make game four. Yeah, of course. Of course. I’m loud at my house when I’m watching these games. God, I got my legs kicked up. Yeah, it’s really nice. It is. No, no, no. No more legs kicked up. Court, you need to be court. I got you. I got you. You guys going to let me rev it up anymore. We don’t rev it up anymore. Okay. That’s what we learned from last year. That’s what we learned from last year’s playoff run. Got it. Got it. Yes. But we can give you a mic and let you, you know, do your promo. You know, Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie’s place and say she learned promos from you. We could, you know, you could get your promo off right there. Hey, that was a pretty good episode, wasn’t it? That That was a great episode. Yeah, great episode. I watched it. I was like, man, you guys were like really nice to me. That never happened. Normally, whenever I take my time to talk to somebody uh and they’re either writing something or creating something, it’s just a burial of me and it’s like, “Oh, I’m happy I spent my time uh doing that with you. I didn’t know that was an angle that you could even take from what we talked about.” They were very kind to me. Stephanie is very cool to me and I think it told the story well of how much wrestling can do and how much wrestling can, you know, help folks. And I think you’re one of the people that believe the same thing as do we. And uh I can’t wait to watch you do your thing in the ECF, brother. Good luck the rest of the way. Yeah. Appreciate it, bro. Appreciate it, guys. You’re the man, ladies and gentlemen. Tyrese Halenburg. Hey, Tyrese. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Tyrese Haliburton joins Pat and the crew on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the Indiana Pacers beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers being considered an underrated team, his relationship with LeBron James and more!

0:00 The Pacers being underrated
9:30 Beating the Cavs
13:36 His relationship with Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell
24:56 LeBron tweeting about Tyrese

☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱 Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV

#ESPN #NBA