Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton renew rivalry on SmackDown

While the NBA season is over, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton found a way to add some extra spice to the rivalry between their respective teams, the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

WWE SmackDown emanated from Madison Square Garden on Friday night. Madison Square Garden is WWE’s longtime “home” building and is also the home building of the Knicks and Brunson, who was seated ringside. One of the matches was a Money in the Bank qualifier, pitting Santos Escobar, LA Knight and Logan Paul against each other in a triple-threat match. Paul, already one of WWE’s top heels, made it easy for the MSG fans to boo him when he came out with Haliburton.

As Paul and Haliburton walked around the ring, they noticed Brunson. The two NBA players then had a stare-down — which was just the beginning of things.

Tyrese Haliburton vs. Jalen Brunson 🤯@NBA #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/UKqEjXRHCy

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) June 29, 2024

During the match, Paul called for Haliburton. The Pacers star then ran over to Jeff Levin, Paul’s manager who was also seated ringside, to retrieve a pair of brass knuckles. As Haliburton prepared to bring the knuckles over, Brunson hopped the rail and confronted him.

The two NBA players slowly walked toward each other as officials tried to keep them apart, while announcer Wade Barrett asked, “Is this Game 8?”

Pacers/Knicks rivalry renewed on SmackDown as Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson square off at MSG. pic.twitter.com/noGZrYDzTk

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 29, 2024

Before Haliburton could deliver the knuckles, a revived Escobar attacked Paul. That led to the finishing sequence where Knight hit a BFT, his finishing move, on Escobar. As he went to pin Escobar, Paul sprinted over and tried to roll Knight up from behind. Knight reversed the rollup pin attempt and completed one of his own on Paul, winning the match.

But while the match was over, the conflict was not.

Knight’s celebration was quickly halted as Haliburton, still with the brass knuckles on his hand, got into the ring. As Haliburton and Paul surrounded Knight, a cheer was heard. Brunson was making his way into the ring — but he wasn’t alone. In his right hand, Brunson was carrying a steel chair.

“Somebody get the commissioner on the phone.”pic.twitter.com/DCUtr7XkRg

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 29, 2024

Eventually, Paul and Haliburton left the ring while Knight and Brunson celebrated.

If their NBA schedules allow, perhaps Brunson and Haliburton can renew their rivalry in February, when Indianapolis hosts the Royal Rumble.