First, let’s be clear. Pops was not in prison! In an NBA playoff atmosphere charged with emotion, noise, and more t-shirts than a merch tent at Coachella, Pacers fans rolled into Game 4 in their new favorite wardrobe staple: “Free Pops” shirts. Indiana Pacers fans are passionate, loud, and loyal. Slightly dramatic? Maybe. So when Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John, was suspended by the NBA for his courtside antics with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the fans reacted in full playoff mode: t-shirts were printed, signs were waved, and a “Free Pops” campaign was unofficially launched. It was touching, it was hilarious, it was… maybe a bit much?
Because while fans were busy treating John Haliburton like he’d been wrongly convicted, Tyrese Haliburton wasn’t exactly wiping away tears. “No, I mean, I’m going to be honest with you guys here. Like, my dad is just fine.” That quote? Delivered straight-faced, no violin soundtrack in the background. Just Haliburton setting the record straight after Indiana’s Game 4 win, with now a 3-1 lead against the Knicks.
What led to this? Flash to Pacers vs Bucks when Pacers sealed a win and eliminated Giannis & Co. from the playoffs. Emotions ran high. Giannis was emotional. And from the front row, John Haliburton waved a towel with Tyrese’s face on it, a gesture that turned into a heated post-game altercation with Bucks players. The NBA didn’t laugh. John was suspended from the following games of the playoffs.
In response? Fans rallied. “Free Pops” shirts hit the stands like it was the new playoff uniform. But Haliburton, while grateful for the sentiment, didn’t think his dad needed a liberation movement. “He’s at the house watching the game in a beautiful home, or he finds his way in some sports bar with a bunch of Pacer fans. My dad is doing just fine.” Translation? No need to organise a GoFundMe. Pops was just chilling with wings and Wi-Fi. Period.
Haliburton then continued, “We’re saying free pops and pop is free, but he was not in jail. He happened to be in a very beautiful home, sitting very pretty, watching NBA basketball.” Is this the funniest quote of the Pacers’ playoff run? Possibly. But is it the realest? Absolutely.
“Free Pops” was fun, but Tyrese Haliburton had other priorities
But Pacers fans, fueled by playoff adrenaline and parental loyalty, turned this into a movement. Tyrese, though, wasn’t buying the drama: “I think some (commentary) was warranted. Some went a little too far. But I mean that’s just sports. That’s just sports, and that’s just talking heads, you know, what can you really do?”
Tyrese didn’t downplay how special it was to have his dad back in the arena. But he also didn’t pretend like it was the climax of some redemption movie. If anything, he was even happier to have Triple H at that building. “Obviously my dad being here is special… when he would come to my game, I’d want to play well,” he said. “But… Triple H being in the building was pretty fire too.” You read that right.
And with Pops back in the building for Game 4, Haliburton poured in another strong performance with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 15 assists to help the Pacers lead the series, but made it clear the emotion didn’t come from t-shirt slogans. “I just wanted to put on a good performance, you know, I wanted to win the game.”
Haliburton spoke with poise, humor, and clarity. Qualities that are now starting to define his young leadership. And he knew the attention wasn’t just on his dad. Legends like Grant Hill, Danny Granger, Joe Young, and Reggie Miller had all shown up. The building buzzed. “It’s an exciting time to be a Pacer and a Pacer alumni. And we’re just trying to, you know, keep playing the right way.”
The league had its reasons for suspending John Haliburton. And the fans? Their hearts were in the right place. But when your star point guard, who leads the team in points and perspective, shrugs off the drama with a laugh and a nod to a WWE cameo, maybe it’s time to recalibrate. And while the shirts might’ve been fire, the real fire? That was Haliburton on the floor.
The post Tyrese Haliburton Wasn’t Impressed With Pacers Community’s Fight for His Dad John During NBA Suspension appeared first on EssentiallySports.