A Pacer legend is living vicariously through Tyrese Haliburton.
Reggie Miller was one of the greatest showmen to ever play in the National Basketball Association.
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He was at his best in marquee games, especially in the postseason. Miller came close a couple times to delivering Indiana to an NBA Championship, but it did not happen. One of the teams he loved to defeat was the New York Knicks. It was something about New York that got under Miller’s skin and he loved crushing their dreams. In the ESPN 30 for 30 “Winning Time” documentary, we were introduced to the infamous “choke” gesture Miller gave the Knicks in its seven game series.
Haliburton brought the gesture back on Wednesday to honor Miller in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
He brought the Pacers back in overtime to capture a 138-135 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Haliburton knocked down the game-tying shot that bounced off the top of the rim and went into the net. New York fans went deafly quiet as the Pacers were juiced up for overtime. Haliburton did the choke symbol and Miller acknowledged him with approval.
WHAT A SHOT BY TYRESE HALIBURTON ???????????? https://t.co/8wEwdkeRwZ pic.twitter.com/s497GwRWi9
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
tyrese haliburton doing the reggie miller choke at MSG and then pointing to him in the crowd is why sports are awesome pic.twitter.com/2VLcviVRU0
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) May 22, 2025
Reggie Miller’s reaction to Tyrese Haliburton postgame ???? pic.twitter.com/0TBBVw9p3q
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) May 22, 2025
Haliburton finished with a double-double — scoring 31 points and dishing out 11 assists.
He also had four rebounds on 12-of-23 shooting from the field. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, a native New Yorker, is not happy and film director Spike Lee is disappointed too. Miller is proud to see the next generation of Pacers still give it to the Knicks.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
