Days After Mocking Damian Lillard’s Signature Pose, Tyrese Haliburton Defends His Controversial Celebration

Tyrese Haliburton is the rising star of the NBA who has turned the tide of his team, the Indiana Pacers. In the inaugural In-Season tournament, Haliburton’s performance was just exceptional, and he led the Pacers to the finals. His popularity reached new heights after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. With less than a minute left in regulation and the Pacers leading 119-114, Haliburton came through in a big time. His step-back three-pointer over the tall Brook Lopez not only earned a big victory for Indiana but also left spectators in awe of the young star’s confidence under pressure.

However, what stole the show was his post-shot celebration of Damian Lillard where he playfully mimicked the 7x All-Star. When the 23-year-old appeared on the ‘KG Certified’, he cleared the air about why he did that celebration.

Lil Magic talks about the Dame Time celebration

Host, and Celtics Legend Kevin Garnett asked Tyrese Haliburton about his celebration. KG said, “I see you talking s**t bro. I see the skip, where does the skip come from?” Haliburton smiled at him and said, “You know what’s funny about the skip bro, the skip was just in the moment. Like we was playing at Atlanta and I hit like 4-5 in a row, and I’m like, ‘Man I’m going crazy right now’. So the skip just happened naturally and now everybody think its my signature I’m like ‘nah it just happened in the moment’.”

Haliburton further spoke about the Dame-Time celebration and said, “Everybody was gassing up the watch, you know it was just in the moment. I didn’t think like imma do it, I was just in the moment having fun.” The 2023 All-Star even said that the only reason he wears number Zero is because of Lillard as he used to look up to him. Now he is proud that he has gotten the opportunity to compete against his idol and said, “That’s the great part about the NBA, your idols turn into your rivals.”

Tyrese Haliburton’s performance beyond the theatrics

Tyrese Haliburton not only has a big mouth but also has the skill set to back up his showmanship. Throughout the In-season tournament, he was averaging 28 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 13.4 assists per game. He was able to demonstrate his well-rounded abilities and ability to affect the game on numerous fronts. His heroics in the tournament made some memorable moments and his performances demonstrated that he and his team are a force to be reckoned with.

Read More: Is Tyrese Haliburton a Young Stephen Curry?

With the talent Haliburton possesses, he can attain glory for his franchise. Currently, they are 5th on their conference table with 13 wins and 8 losses. However, as the Pacers continue in the regular season, supporters will be hoping for more unforgettable moments from the rising star.

Watch this Story: Damian Lillard Wreaks Havoc as Mavs Choke in Clutch- 2 Takeaways as Bucks Nullify Luka “Magic” and Kyrie Irving Wizardry

What are your thoughts on Haliburton’s performances? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!