Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton had a huge game Wednesday night, and that might explain why he seemed to get under the skin of the Detroit Pistons’ TV announcers.
Haliburton scored 30 points as the Pacers thumped the Pistons, 133-119. But with just over three minutes remaining and the Pacers up comfortably by 11, the two teams exchanged words in an incident near midcourt.
Official Suyash Mehta then called a technical foul on Detroit’s Tim Hardaway Jr.
In the FanDuel Sports Network Detroit booth, play-by-play man George Blaha pointed out Haliburton’s role in getting the technical called.
“Haliburton actually told him to call the tech and he did, after he was told by Tyrese to call it,” Blaha said. “Words out there now between both sides. … Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, too.
“And Tyrese Haliburton never shuts up. Never.”
“No. He’s an agitator,” color analyst Greg Kelser agreed.
“Tyrese would like to officiate, as well,” Blaha added, as Haliburton continued to try to make a point with an official.
Detroit Pistons announcers George Blaha and Greg Kelser on Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
Blaha: Man, Tyrese Haliburton never shuts up. Never.
Kelser: No. He’s an agitator.
Blaha: Tyrese would like to officiate, as well. pic.twitter.com/R67hfZaBbT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 30, 2025
One could sense the frustration and/or irritation in the Pistons TV booth.
Haliburton is no stranger to drawing unkind comments from rival broadcasters. New York Knicks MSG broadcaster Wally Szczerbiak once called Haliburton a “wannabe fake All-Star.” When the Knicks and Pacers played in New York in late 2023, Haliburton repeatedly stared down Szczerbiak during the game.
