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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are NBA champions. But not everyone is toasting to their title run. John Haliburton (father of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton) sat down for a candid Father’s Day interview and didn’t hold back.
His message to the Knicks and their fans was loud, clear, and full of warning signs for New York’s future.
GettyTyrese Haliburton’s Dad Fires Stunning Shot at Knicks After Title Run
In a recent interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson for ScoopB.com, John Haliburton gave the Knicks their flowers, but with a massive asterisk attached. When asked about New York’s championship run, he said:
“New York won the championship this year, but they won it because Indiana wasn’t fully standing in their way at the very end. Next year, with Tyrese back, Indiana will be standing right there.”
That’s a direct shot. He’s not taking anything away from the Knicks’ first title in decades, but he’s making something crystal clear: the Pacers were not at full strength.
Tyrese suffered a brutal Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and John believes that injury was the difference-maker between a Knicks banner and an Indiana dynasty.
GettyJohn Haliburton Takes Aim at Knicks Fans With Controversial Championship Remark
The Knicks may be champions, but John Haliburton’s comments highlight some real concerns heading into 2026-27.
The Pacers are coming back hungry. The young core of Indiana, including several rookies and second-year players, got valuable firsthand experience of a Finals through the season. After Tyrese Haliburton comes back from his Achilles rehab, they will be a fully loaded, battle-tested team aiming at the New York’s championship.
In the 2025-26 regular season, Indiana was a rebuilding team without its franchise star for the most part, posting a 19-63 record. That record is misleading. The Pacers actually made it to the Finals, and with a healthy Tyrese, the experts foresee them being a top Eastern Conference team straight away when Tyrese returns.
The Knicks still haven’t completely solved their depth problems. Sure, Jalen Brunson starred with an incredible 26 PPG showing this season, but New York’s room for mistakes shrinks drastically when they meet a fully capable Indiana team. Pacers’ young players have already experienced a deep playoff run, and that type of experience is invaluable.
John Haliburton ended his message simply: Indiana will be “standing right there” next season. For a Knicks fan base still celebrating in the streets, those words should ring loud, because the dynasty doesn’t start until you can defend it.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
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