Tyrese Haliburton got in one last jab at New York and Knicks fans after his in-ring confrontation with Jalen Brunson during WWE’s “SmackDown” at Madison Square Garden.
Haliburton and Logan Paul, who were ultimately chased off by a chair-wheedling Brunson and L.A. Knight, cut a backstage promo that WWE posted to its social media channels on Saturday.
Paul, who brought the Pacers star to ring with him on Friday night, opened the promo by talking about still being the United States champion despite losing his Money in the Bank qualifying match against Knight and Santo Escobar.
Then, it was Haliburton’s turn to play the heel and rub some salt in the wound of his Pacers ending the Knicks’ season by winning Game 7 at the Garden to close out their second-round NBA playoff series.
“I’m just glad New York won something,” Haliburton said. “I mean, they all feel good out there. So good for them. I hope they all sleep well tonight.”
Paul added: “Yeah, y’all suck.”
Wrestling promos are meant to be fun and over the top, so it’s likely Haliburton has no true ill will toward New York — even with him wearing a Reggie Miller hoodie after Indiana’s Game 7 win.
The scripted Haliburton-Brunson confrontation began with a staredown with the Pacers wing walking ringside and locking eyes with Brunson standing on the other side of the barricade.
Later in the match, Haliburton was about to deliver Paul his signature brass knuckles to help him win but Brunson jumped the barricade and confronted his rival.
Doing so, left Paul unable to use the brass knuckles and gave Knight the opening to claim victory.
Brunson appeared to be taken away by security but returned to the ring with a steel chair and caused Haliburton and Paul to back away from attacking Knight.
Brunson and Haliburton feel destined to cross paths again in the playoffs with both the Knicks and Pacers — who have a lengthy rivalry history, seemingly in the middle of an NBA championship window.
