Tyrese Haliburton’s rise to stardom in the NBA wasn’t just about his talent. Yes, we all know he’s got plenty of it. But the road he took to get there wasn’t paved by him alone. No, his parents, John and Brenda Haliburton, were critical in his development as both a player and a person.

Whether it was basketball lessons after a bad game or unwavering support from the stands during one, his parents never left his side. Their impact stretches beyond basketball. No wonder Tyrese gives them so much credit for making him who he is today. So, let’s take a look at the people who helped make him the star he is today.

Who is Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John? Did he coach the Pacers star? 

John Haliburton lives, eats, and breathes basketball. Be it teaching his son, coaching him, or refereeing a game in his native Wisconsin, if there’s a hoop, be sure John Haliburton is nearby. But it’s John’s fervor and passion for the game that led Tyrese to become a hooper in the first place.

The Pacers star says his father was the one who “put the ball in his hand.” You see, when Tyrese was born, John was a women’s basketball coach. And where we see two unrelated things, John saw an opportunity. He would utilize his team’s practices to help Tyrese work on his basketball skills, even when Tyrese was virtually still a baby! “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,’” Tyrese revealed during a 2023 Pacers press conference.

But John himself thinks he didn’t really have to do too much to make Tyrese into the world-beater he is today. “Tyrese has always been the type of kid that you didn’t really have to push him because he had the desire from inside. All you had to do was direct him [and] let him do his thing,” he revealed when he appeared on Inside the NBA alongside his son.

And the things John had Tyrese do growing up would eventually earn the Pacers star a shoutout from arguably the greatest point guard that ever lived, Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Tyrese revealed on the same interview that John had him watching film of Johnson and the Showtime Lakers constantly. And when Tyrese was drafted, Magic even congratulated him, calling him “Little Magic”. What a unique honor!

Who is Tyrese Haliburton’s mother, Brenda? 

“There’s so many people for me to thank, but I’d be wrong if I didn’t start with my mom,” said Tyrese during the announcement of his five-year, $260 million Pacers deal. Brenda Haliburton was the first person on his mind when addressing one of the biggest milestones in his life. Such is the adulation and gratitude Tyrese feels for his mother.

And why wouldn’t he? While he grew, Brenda made sure to attend every game he played in. “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 revealed to the Ames Tribune.

In fact, it took an act of God for Brenda to miss her first game. This happened after Tyrese was already an adult playing college ball for Iowa State. “The Texas Tech game, the plane wouldn’t take off because of the weather. That was the first game she ever missed,”  Tyrese continued. Even though there wasn’t anything she could do about it, Brenda still felt bad for missing the game. So much so that it took her son to comfort her. 

No wonder Tyrese loves his mom so much. Quite clearly, he’s simply following her lead in this regard! But Tyrese wasn’t the only one to be shaped by this unwavering support. That’s because the Pacers star has 3 siblings who’ve been at his side since the beginning.

Does Tyrese Haliburton have any siblings?

Tyrese is the second youngest of four children. He’s got two half-brothers from Brenda’s previous marriage. And after his birth, the Haliburtons welcomed the latest addition to their family – Marcel Haliburton, Tyrese’s younger brother. You may have seen him during Pacers games, cheering on his brother alongside his parents.

All in all, family lies at the heart of Tyrese Haliburton’s journey. And the 2x All-Star has never shied away from admitting this. As he continues to shine in the league, we’re sure it’s these close bonds that help him fuel his success!