Tyrese Haliburton has officially entered his villain era, and fans are loving every second of it.
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, not only did the Indiana Pacers star deliver a historic 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound masterpiece without a single turnover, but he also turned heads by mocking Jalen Brunson with the New York Knicks guard’s own signature celebration.
Hali hit the Brunson three celly 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/PQL4JoERzW
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) May 28, 2025
After knocking down a deep three, Haliburton hit Brunson’s “leg pat into three-point” celebration, igniting the crowd and sending NBA Twitter into a frenzy.
Fans quickly piled on with reactions that captured just how savage and entertaining Haliburton’s moment was. “This man is a straight up menace,” one fan tweeted.
Another chimed in, “Hali snatched Brunson’s chain,” while others joked that he was the true villain of the playoffs.
“They thought Ant was snatching infinite stones, but it was really Hali the entire time,” one wrote, alluding to the Pacers’ stealth takeover of the East.
Haliburton’s performance wasn’t just flashy, it was all-time great. He became the first player in NBA playoff history to post 30+ points, 15+ assists, and 10+ rebounds with zero turnovers.
And he did it with flair, poise, and a bit of pettiness, which only made his night more iconic. From his no-look dimes to his timely daggers, Haliburton dictated the pace of the game and played chess while the Knicks played checkers.
The moment he mocked Brunson was more than just trolling it was a statement. The Pacers were taking control of the series, and Haliburton wasn’t just outperforming the Knicks star; he was asserting his dominance as the superior floor general.
The comparisons have already begun: Brunson might be averaging more points, but Haliburton is running a better offense, commanding a deeper team, and proving that pace and precision can be just as lethal as iso-scoring.
In doing so, Haliburton’s legend is growing. The “Haliban,” as fans are now calling him, is running the East with calculated destruction.
From Giannis to Brunson, he’s taken on the best and responded with elite playmaking, clutch buckets, and now, disrespectful celebrations. As one fan perfectly summed up, “He’s so cold for a geek. That’s why I fw him so much.”
Even Rick Carlisle acknowledged how locked in his point guard was: “He’s doing this within the system. There isn’t a lot of freelance stuff. He’s just that good.”
And while Jalen Brunson’s 31 points were respectable, the Knicks were constantly reacting to Haliburton’s orchestration rather than setting the tone.
New York now trails 3-1 in the series, and the Pacers are just one win away from their first Finals appearance since 2000. Game 5 heads back to Madison Square Garden, a place that’s been more of a curse than a home court for the Knicks this postseason.
If Haliburton closes it out there, on the league’s biggest stage, don’t be surprised if he breaks out another celebration, maybe even Spike Lee’s favorite. Because right now, this man is a straight-up menace.
