Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard used to have a good relationship, but a provocation during the In-Season Tournament has ruined it – much to the Pacers star’s regret.
“I think what I regret more than anything else is what’s become of the relationship between me and Dame,” Tyrese Haliburton told Zach Lowe in the latest episode of the “Zach Lowe Show”.
Haliburton had looked up to Lillard for “most of his life”; even after the current Pacers star was drafted, Lillard continued to act as a role model and “often got in touch with me early in my career, especially when I was traded”, he recalled of the period following his trade from the Sacramento Kings to the Pacers in 2022.
However, the relationship between the two changed following their clash in the 2023 In-Season Tournament. With less than a minute on the clock in the semi-final against Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks, Haliburton sank the decisive three-pointer and, of all things, celebrated it with Lillard’s trademark “Dame Time” celebration by staring intently at his wrist for a long time.
Haliburton on the Lillard provocation: “I’ll take the blame”
“I’ll take the blame. I was young, caught up in the moment, had a bit of fun with it, but it was probably a bit too much. And what happened afterwards, well, it just happened,” Haliburton explained: “I’d like to have a chat with Lillard, because I just think it turned into more than it ever needed to be.”
His hope is that he and Lillard can “at least be polite to each other again”.
Lillard and Haliburton both missed the last season after tearing their Achilles tendons in the 2025 play-offs.
Their first meeting in over a year could then take place on 17 December, when the Pacers host the Portland Trail Blazers.