Game recognize game — and that applies even when the worlds of sports and sports entertainment cross paths.
Tyrese Haliburton is currently having an incredible season for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, with the third-year guard from Iowa State averaging career highs in points, assists and shooting percentage while helping orchestrate the league’s No. 1 offense. Yet in the “he just like me” category, he also gets starstruck in the presence of WWE royalty.
Want proof? The Pacers posted this awesome clip of Haliburton and a teammate surprised by the presence of Booker T and Sharmell standing beside their path out to the floor before the Pacers game on Tuesday night.
Haliburton stopped briefly for a handshake and hug but insisted, “We got to get a picture after the game.”
Check out the video below:
“Booker T, no way…And the Queen!”
Tyrese Haliburton met @WWE Hall of Famers Booker T and Queen Sharmell before last night’s game. safe to say he was a little excited 🥹😂 pic.twitter.com/Ik4q2yZOTG
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 27, 2023
The Pacers were in Houston, where Booker T and Sharmell call home, to take on the Rockets. And while we can’t say for sure this meeting inspired Haliburton to victory, he did have 33 points and 10 assists in a 123-117 Pacers win.
Haliburton has a long way to go to be as decorated at his craft as Booker T has been in WWE, but he certainly appears to be on the right track, and maybe they’ll meet up again more as peers somewhere down the road.