New York City firefighter and Indiana Pacers die-hard Hanz Perez was at the middle of an alarming situation on May 16, 2025. With his white Pistons jersey, which honored Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton, worn as he took to the streets outside of Madison Square Garden to celebrate after the New York Knicks routed the Boston Celtics in Game 6 to secure entry into the Eastern Conference Finals.
The attack escalated quickly as obscenities were yelled, rubbish bags were thrown at him, and he was chased down the street by them. There were even attempts at ripping his jersey, and he ran for shelter as tensions grew within the crowd. The experience, recorded in an instantly viral video, quickly spread on social media channels, sparking universal outrage and fueling discussion about NBA fan behavior.
Moved by the distressing footage, Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ star point guard, took action to support his fan. During a surprise appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where Perez was recounting his experience, Haliburton extended a generous invitation.
“I personally wanna bring you and a plus one out to Indiana for Game 4,”
he said.
“Everyone in our organization is eager to assure that you’re taken care of.”
The Indiana Pacers vowed to pay for everything, from travel to accommodations, to allow Perez and a guest to join Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as special VIPs. The gesture turned an unpleasant experience into one of celebration, showing the strength of sport to heal and support.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs have been a demonstration of Pacers’ resilience, defeating both Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers five games each to reach Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks series is an encore to one of the NBA’s most iconic head-to-head series, one that spans back to highly competitive postseason series in the 1990s. The two teams last played each other in 2000, and it’s where both hopes of reaching NBA Finals converge.
Tyrese Haliburton has been a key figure in driving Pacers success, posting an average of 17.5 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds throughout the playoffs. His game-winning performances and on-court playmaking skills have drawn comparisons to Pacers legend and hall of famer Reggie Miller, further ensuring his position as one of the league’s up-and-coming players
Haliburton’s gesture has earned widespread acclaim, resonating deeply within the sports community. Actor and avid Knicks fan Ben Stiller took to X to praise Haliburton, stating,
“I appreciate this by Haliburton. No one should ever treat fans of any team like this. N.Y. is better than this. And this man is a firefighter”.
These reactions underscore the broader impact of Haliburton’s actions in promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect.
The case of Perez is within a larger discussion of NBA fan behavior. In recent years, other instances, including examples of inappropriate comments or even physical confrontations, have occurred in games of great consequence in the playoffs. There was an investigation of Timberwolves fans for making racially insensitive comments to one of that team’s players.
The NBA does support measures to tackle such behavior, with rules in place that reinforce upholding a welcoming and respectful setting for all visitors. Such episodes encourage continued debate on finding a middle ground where great passion is not lost while ensuring that arenas remain accessible to all users.
