“His ability to recognize the platform he has as an NBA player and his willingness to speak on racial injustices is a testament to his maturity,” said fellow-hooper Harrison Barnes about Tyrese Haliburton. This proves that Captain Clutch isn’t just a rising star, but can inspire the masses on and off the court. As he navigates through the challenges of professional basketball, his commitment to social justice and heritage shines through. But why? What is he doing it for? Well, it all begins at home.

Tyrese Haliburton’s rich family heritage and cultural background

He was born on February 29, 2000, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to John and Brenda. His dad, John Haliburton, is an African American. He is a basketball referee and former women’s basketball coach. Tyrese said, “My dad coached a girl’s basketball team when I was born and I meet these girls all the time. They’re like ‘Oh, I held you when you were a baby”.

The hooper further explains, “They always say when I was barely old enough to crawl, my dad would make sure one-half of the court was reserved for them and one-half of the court was reserved for me.”

Born into a sports-loving family, his parents have played crucial roles in shaping his character and values. John instilled discipline and passion in Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacer said, “My pops, y’all know he’s the one who put the ball in my hand. My dad has always pushed me.” Brenda, on the other hand, was the driving force behind his basketball aspirations.

Brenda never missed a game, except for one, because of a delayed flight. “My mom has always come to everything. There have been nights when we played in Milwaukee, so she would go and work and leave with me with a teammate or coach for a night, but make it to the game the next day, whether it was the afternoon or night,” Tyrese Haliburton said.

Mom’s unwavering support has been vital. The hooper acknowledges her sacrifices and believes that without her efforts, he might not be where he is today. “She’s the reason I signed that big contract,” Haliburton stated.

Apart from his basketball success, the hooper has always talked about his African American heritage. “I’m biracial, obviously. So having a white mom and a black dad, understanding that, that’s not something that has always been OK. So, for me at a young age, I was just enamored with learning more about African Americans and the history of my people,” says Captain Clutch.

Haliburton’s social initiative and efforts to reduce racial inequality, amplifying voices in the community

Tyrese Haliburton is proud of his mixed ethnicity. This background fuels his passion for social justice. Growing up, his awareness of racial issues began at an early age, sparked by the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. He recalls, “At that time, I was 11, about to be 12 years old, and to learn about that and seeing the pain in my pop’s eyes.” 

“You know, I had my parents having to sit me down and talk to me about the world that I was entering as a kid that the world I was going to be entering. Yeah, I think that kind of sparked everything for me. And, it was hearing my dad have a dialogue with people about that situation. I think that started me to really get involved in what’s going on,” Tyrese Haliburton continued.

As he developed into an athlete, Hali felt a responsibility to speak up against injustice. In his rookie season in 2021, the hooper expressed his frustration with Black History Month, “More than anything Black History Month frustrates me because to acknowledge our Black, African American heroes in one month is kind of nuts. Why is there not a ‘white history month’? That kind of frustrates me in the sense of I honor these heroes by what I do every day and the freedoms that I have today.”

By this, Tyrese aims to honor these heroes through his actions every day. “But when it does come around, I’m thankful that the heroes that don’t get acknowledged much are able to have that spotlight and that acknowledgment because without them, who knows where we’d be in this world.”

Recently, Haliburton addressed a racial incident involving his younger brother during the Pacers’ playoff series against the Bucks. “My little brother in the stands the other day was called the N-word” he shared. This incident highlighted the importance of family support in addressing such issues. The Bucks responded by emphasizing their commitment to a safe environment for all fans.

This wasn’t the first time he chose to speak up. On his very first step to the NBA, which was his draft night, he chose to wear a custom suit jacket to honor his school and hometown, but with a twist! The lining of his jacket featured the phrase “Black Lives Matter”.

Isn’t it interesting how he spoke from the from the very beginning? If you are wondering, apart from family, who inspired him, it’s none other than the Akron hammer, LeBron James. “LeBron was my favorite player. So hearing him be able to speak about issues and things like that inspired me as a young kid to talk about what’s important and talk about what’s right.” Tyrese Haliburton said.

However, it wasn’t just LeBron James. “So I knew when I got to this level that I wasn’t going to shy away from things like that just because I looked up to him growing up and then just being a historian of sports, you know, like Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest athletes ever, he wasn’t shy about speaking his mind either”. However, apart from speaking up, he has always giving back to his community in the ways he can.