There’s loyalty, and then there’s Indiana Pacers–level loyalty. Moments after the Pacers snatched Game 2 from the Knicks at MSG, Tyrese Haliburton turned the postgame set into a family affair—on live TV. “Free Pops till it’s backwards,” he declared with a sly grin, while Charles Barkley nearly fell out of his chair screaming and laughing, “Free, free your dad!!”
What’s it mean? Enter John Haliburton—Tyrese’s dad, a longtime basketball referee and former women’s hoops coach—who hasn’t been in the building for either game in this second-round series. And the Pacers? They’re up 2-0. Coincidence? Maybe. But in playoff basketball, rituals matter, especially when you’re rolling.
Tyrese made it clear: he wants his dad in the building for Game 3. But the joke landed because fans know how sports families operate. The minute something’s working, you don’t touch it. You don’t even breathe near it.
“Free Pops till it’s backwards.”
Chuck and Hali want to see John Haliburton in the building for Game 3 pic.twitter.com/PgP2lhGthD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2025
So, will Pops make his first appearance this series? Or is it keep-the-streak mode until further notice? Because right now, the Pacers are winning, the vibes are elite, and “Free Pops” is officially the slogan of whatever is left of May.
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