When Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton visited the preseason match against the San Antonio Spurs, cameras captured him with something enthusiasts did not take long to realize what it was. A Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani jersey.
On any other night, that could have been just mere fashion and coincidence. However, this was not a night like any other. The Dodgers were hosting the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) that same day, just a few hours after.
That timing did not go unnoticed.
The playfull joke
Haliburton, rooted in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has never hidden his competitiveness against teams from his home state. The 24-year-old has cultivated a playful rivalry with Milwaukee followers, especially after his iconic duels with the Bucks during last season.
So when he appeared on Monday dressed in an Ohtani jersey, he was intentionally supporting to the Dodgers. It was the ultimate perfectly on-time troll.
As Sports Illustrated’sTtony Eas wrote:
Tyrese Haliburton rocking a Shohei Ohtani jersey at tonight’s Pacers-Spurs preseason game … Dodgers play Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers in Milwaukee in less than an hour
The post went immediately viral both among basketball and baseball fans, inducing laughter and a few groans throughout all of Wisconsin.
Rivalry roots
Haliburton is deeply linked to Milwaukee. He was raised an hour from the city but, through his NBA success with the Indiana Pacers, has added a competitive dimension to his connection with Wisconsin sports fans.
The Bucks and Pacers clashed against each other several times during intense wars this past season, including during the NBA In-Season Tournament, when Haliburton’s dierct celebrations like his famous “night night” gesture were the subject of conversation for Bucks fans.
That background made his Ohtani jersey selection even more loaded. It was not rude or confrontational. but was enough to create tense conversations and fuel his friendly feud against his people.
Fans take notice
Social media soon buzzed when the photo came out. “It’s treasonous behavior,” some Brewers’ supporters joked, while others appreciated Haliburton’s sense of humor.
“Tyrese Haliburton knows exactly what he’s doing,” one fan posted on X. “Elite rage bait from Mr. Tyrese John Haliburton.”
Even Dodgers Nation were all in about the joke, re-sharing the photo with the caption:
“You gotta love Tyrese Haliburton repping Shohei and the Dodgers while they take on the Brewers tonight.”
That was the sort of crossover moment that shows the ease with which sports rivalries can spill over outside of their own leagues.
A glimpse of his style, substance and personality
For Haliburton, the action was a funny interaction more than provocative. The Pacers phenomenon has established himself as among the NBA’s most popular young stars, by also being confident, earthy, and never afraid to live life.
His perfect timing proved him as being able to relate to the masses and embracing to tell stories that make sports even more interesting and engaging.
Even as some of the faithful in Milwaukee rolled their eyes in disgust, most laughed at the humor of it. Ultimately, it was classic Haliburton: argumentative, charismatic, and unapologetically himself. It was not trash talk. It was not drama. It was another example of how the NBA’s brightest young stars know how to keep sports fun, even when they are not on the court.
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