Haliburton Invites NYC Pacers Fan Hit with Garbage to Indy
In a powerful display of sportsmanship and community, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton extended a heartfelt gesture to a devoted fan who faced hostility in New York City.(talkSPORT)
Hans Perez, a firefighter and lifelong Pacers supporter, was subjected to verbal abuse and had garbage thrown at him by a group of New York Knicks fans while wearing a Haliburton jersey outside Madison Square Garden. The incident occurred after the Knicks’ playoff victory over the Boston Celtics and was captured in a video that quickly went viral on social media.(OutKick, New York Post)
Moved by the footage, Haliburton surprised Perez during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He personally invited Perez and a guest to attend Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Indianapolis as VIPs, offering to cover their travel and accommodations. Haliburton emphasized that the entire Pacers organization was eager to welcome Perez and show their appreciation for his unwavering support.(talkSPORT, New York Post)
“Everybody in our organization wants to make sure you’re taken care of,” Haliburton told Perez. “All the team’s excited to meet you. It’s all we’ve been talking about.” (OutKick, ESPN.com)
Perez, visibly touched by the offer, expressed his gratitude and shared his excitement about the upcoming game, pending his work schedule. The gesture has been widely praised, including by actor and Knicks superfan Ben Stiller, who commended Haliburton’s actions on social media. (New York Post, The Times of India)
