Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers point guard, missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles. He spent the year on the sidelines and watched the New York Knicks end a 53-year championship drought from a screen instead of the court.

In an interview on the Boardroom Podcast's Boardroom Talks segment with Speedy, Haliburton admitted his first instinct was to look away.

"When the Knicks won, I thought to myself, 'I gotta turn this s*** off. Like, I can't, I can't watch it,'" Haliburton said.

It comes from the rivalry that Indiana had with New York, the two teams meeting in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons until Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, which made him miss the entire 2025-2026 season, having to watch New York win the championship he once desired himself.

The lack of participation in those games affected another statement he made in the interview when he was asked whether his team could have defeated New York when all their players were healthy.

"I don't know, bro," Haliburton said. "I mean, do I think if I was healthy and we played them, would we win? Of course. I'm an NBA player. I'm a competitor. Anybody else in my situation would say the same thing."

Haliburton was an All-Star twice before he signed a five-year deal worth $244 million with the Indiana Pacers, while the Knicks had to win each Finals game by coming from behind in order to defeat the Spurs in five games.

But beneath the feud, there was another side of Haliburton that was unveiled after the cameras kept rolling.

Tyrese Haliburton Calls Knicks Stars Friends Off The Court

This respect for the achievement did not prevent Haliburton from being conflicted about the very personal nature of the event when he decided not to look away but rather continue watching.

At one point, Haliburton’s wife, Jade, and other friends suggested that he simply turn off the telecast.

"You know what? Leave it on. Let me watch it," he recalled telling them.

Jalen Brunson celebrating with his wife made an impression on Haliburton, along with Josh Hart being with his twins and Karl-Anthony Towns with Jordan Woods.

"These are all guys that I like," Haliburton said.

"When I see them, when they see me on the court, it's smoke. We hate each other when we're playing, but after that, it's love," Haliburton explained.

These friendships will not make any difference in the game. Haliburton is healthy again as he plays against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 21. Pacers are scheduled to play against the Knicks for the third time in the upcoming season starting November 13.

Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta