Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers guard, postponed his trip to Memphis for the NBA preseason in order to attend WWE Fastlane. Despite this, he will still participate in the game against the Grizzlies on Sunday night.
Haliburton’s social media posts have made it clear that he is a devoted WWE fan and did not want to miss out on seeing John Cena at the event on Saturday. According to Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, Haliburton requested permission to make his own travel arrangements well in advance.
“He talked with me about this around six weeks ago,” Carlisle said after Saturday’s practice. “… I’m very curious to see what they have in store for him. As long as they don’t put him in the sleeper hold, that’ll be good. I’m sure whatever it is it will be entertaining.”
Haliburton not only had a front row seat, but he also had the opportunity to participate more actively in the event. The 2023 NBA All-Star attended press conferences and even asked a question, which demonstrated his deep knowledge and interest in WWE.
This was not Haliburton’s first WWE event. He also attended WWE Smackdown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse last November.
When asked about his passion for WWE, Haliburton explained that it stems from a childhood tradition with his late uncle Gary.
“My uncle Gary, he’s deceased now, but when I was a kid he used to come to my house and we’d always watch it together,” Haliburton told reporters before the event. “Every time I think about it, I think of my uncle Gary. He knew my mom would pay for the pay-per-views if I cried hard enough for it. It’s just a memory I have with him. And my dad always took me whenever they came to Wisconsin. Every WWE event I always take my dad, so I’m looking forward to tonight.”
Haliburton and the rest of the Pacers will face off against the Grizzlies on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
