“This man is a firefighter” — New York Knicks stan Ben Stiller showers praise for Tyrese Haliburton's heartfelt gesture for Indiana Pacers fan after viral incident

A heartfelt Tyrese Haliburton gesture has caught the attention of many, including New York Knicks superfan and actor Ben Stiller , who took a break from his die-hard fandom to salute an act of pure class from the other side of the aisle. Haliburton showed true character after a troubling incident involving a loyal fan of his team. While Haliburton has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, including the “overrated” tag by fans and certain media outlets, his recent gesture to a fan of his organization was enough to melt many hearts.

New York Knicks superfan Ben Stiller shows respect for the Indiana Pacers ’ Tyrese Haliburton

After the New York Knicks clinched a dramatic second-round win over the Boston Celtics, the celebration of some of the Knicks fans went viral. The celebration in New York was loud and proud, but the scene turned hostile for one Indiana Pacers supporter named Hans Perez. Wearing a Haliburton jersey, Perez was harassed by a group of rowdy Knicks fans, who pelted him with garbage and shouted abuse as he walked the streets of New York on May 16. The incident, caught on video, quickly spread online and sparked widespread condemnation.

Trashy ass fanbase pic.twitter.com/bguL2psrPH

— Yeah Yeah! (@YeahYeahOkBro) May 17, 2025

Remarkably, Perez, a firefighter and lifelong Pacers fan, remained composed throughout the ordeal.

Instead of just acknowledging the moment, Haliburton took action. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on May 19, the Pacers guard made a heartfelt offer.

“I want to personally bring you and a plus-one out here to come to Game 4 here in Indiana. I'll bring you guys out here, put you guys up, get you guys seats to the game.

The Pacers, everybody in our organization wants to make sure you're taken care of. The whole team is excited to meet you; it's all we've been talking about. Everybody's seen the video.”

Proud New Yorker and passionate Knicks backer Ben Stiller didn’t hesitate to applaud the opposing player for going above and beyond. Taking to his X, he wrote a heartfelt message for the Pacers star.

I appreciate this by Halliburton. No one should ever treat fans of any team like this. NY is better than this. And this man is a firefighter 🙌. #KNICKSIN6 https://t.co/fDoN22YFdD

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 19, 2025

"I appreciate this by Haliburton. No one should ever treat fans of any team like this. N.Y. is better than this. And this man is a firefighter."

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Certainly, Knicks fandom has been at the top of the ladder, as it was seen in several viral clips in many of the playoff games. While it was celebratory, crossing the limit and violating the spirit of the sport was embarrassing for several loyal Knicks fans.