Tyrese Haliburton ‘Funeral Suit’ Ahead of Knicks-Pacers Game 6 Raises Eyebrows

Tyrese Haliburton was spotted doing his pre-game tunnel walk while donning an all-black suit - a move which has usually backfired.

Tyrese Haliburton ‘Funeral Suit’ Ahead of Knicks-Pacers Game 6 Raises Eyebrows

Tyrese Haliburton (Image via FirstSportz)

Knicks vs Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals is poised at an extremely delicate precipice at this time. Leaders Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton have had some classic duels. Their supporting stars Pascal Siakam and Karl-Anthony Towns have also taken turns in dominating individual games for their teams. It is clear that the Knicks are aiming to rattle Haliburton. The Pacers star in turn, is goading his opponents.

The 25-year-old entered Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a home game 6 while making a statement with his attire. Haliburton donned an all-black suit for the occasion. Why is this significant? Because since the Michael Jordan era, superstars have chosen to come in for elimination games and other important playoff fixtures with the same dress code. It signifies how they are supposed to be locked in on winning.

However, NBA Twitter was quick to jump on his choice of attire. It was bad enough for him to be wearing black, but his suit looks way too loose. Tyrese Haliburton also has a man purse with him – a definitive fashion faux pas for most people. Fans began pointing to several instances of this move backfiring. Kobe Bryant, for instance, walked in for game 6 at Staples Center in the same dress code. His Lakers suffered the worst Finals loss of the era, giving up a 131-92 series clincher.

LeBron James also turned up for Game 1 of the 2018 Finals in the same dress, returning with an excruciating loss. More recently, the 2023-24 Knicks also arrived for game 6 at Indiana wearing black, taking the return flight with their tails between their legs.

Haliburton undoubtedly takes pleasure in making rival fans hate him – it’s the WWE fan in him. Playing a hated heel is undoubtedly a huge crowd-puller and can pay off massively if timed correctly. However, while the Knicks are no longer favorites to take this series, they have a foot back in the door. Their Game 5 win was a sign that they have some answers for the Pacers’ pace.

Tyrese Haliburton vs Jalen Brunson will be the defining duel of this series

While Jalen Brunson has outplayed Haliburton individually, the Pacers have found ways to target him defensively. Through the first four games, Brunson was always made to exert humongous efforts just to enter sets. He has been guarded tightly for all 94 feet by Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard and other Pacers. They understand that testing his conditioning on both ends would be the best way to try and lower his impact.

Haliburton, on the other hand, does not have the same scoring skillset or the ability to create separation with certainty. He relies more on tempo, mismatches, picks, timing and game IQ to create his impact. While he can certainly go off – as he did in Games 1 and 4 – his offense is more cerebral and less scoring.

These contrasting styles for the teams’ respective leaders have made the Knicks-Pacers series yet another classic. The new chapters in these storied franchises’ rivalry have been really cool for neutral fans and diehards alike.

Also Read: