Tyrese Haliburton’s nerdy swagger sparks hilarious Steve Urkel comparisons from Family Matters

Tyrese Haliburton has been playing his heart out against the New York Knicks. He recorded 31 points and 11 assists in Game 1 and 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in Game 2. Thanks to his stellar outings, the Pacers won both games in New York and head back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 2-0 lead.

While it’s a surprising outcome, fans have noticed Haliburton’s nerdy swagger on the court and are comparing him with Steve Urkel from Family Matters. An X user posted a compilation of clips of Haliburton and those from a 1993 episode of Family Matters featuring Urkel playing basketball.

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Fans can make all the comparisons they want, but Haliburton’s impact on this Pacers team is undeniable. He has hit clutch shot after clutch shot to lead Indiana to the Eastern Conference finals. He's averaging 18.3 points, 9.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds through 12 playoff games this season and was named to the All-NBA Third team.

Haliburton’s ability to provide for his teammates lifts the roster’s ceiling and is a major factor behind the Pacers being six playoff wins away from their first championship. Indiana last made the NBA Finals in 2000 but lost to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers.

“This is my KD moment right here, right?”: Tyrese Haliburton on his game-tying shot in Game 1

The Indiana Pacers came back from 14 points down to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Knicks had a 14-point advantage with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Indiana rallied to bring the game to within two. With seconds left on the clock, Tyrese Haliburton shot what seemed to be a 3-pointer and made it.

However, after review, it was revealed that his foot was on the line, and the shot was deemed to be a 2-pointer. Speaking to Reggie Miller on Friday, Haliburton reflected on the shot, calling it his “KD moment.”

“This is my KD moment right here, right? Foot’s on the line. I thought I got back for sure.”

Tyrese Haliburton might have failed to win the game in the fourth quarter, but he kept performing through overtime, leading the Pacers to a 138-135 win. The Indiana star was relieved that he hadn’t wasted Reggie Miller’s iconic choking celebration in a loss.

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About the author

Sameer Khan

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

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