Although Stephen A. Smith refuses to call Tyrese Haliburton a star, the ESPN analyst gave the former Cyclone his flowers on First Take.

This is Brunson vs. Haliburton just as much as it’s Knicks vs. Pacers — and it has the makings of a good ole-fashioned basketball rivalry.

The rival guards, who met last year in the East semifinals, with Haliburton's Pacers advancing, appeared on an episode of “SmackDown” at Madison Square Garden in June 2024, feuding alongside Logan Paul and other stars.