Tyrese Haliburton is the biggest star on the Indiana Pacers and is their biggest superstar since touting Paul George in the 2010s. However, the small-market Pacers have never really been a focal point of pop culture.
With their recent run to the Eastern Conference Finals and a successful regular season this year to follow it up, the Pacers are finally getting some attention. New Orleans rapper Rob49 recently included a shoutout to Haliburton in his viral song WTHELLY, much to the delight of the point guard.
Haliburton is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, averaging an insane 21.3 points and 11.3 assists per game with just 1.2 turnovers in his last 16 appearances. The Pacers are 11-5 during that stretch.
Rob49 included Haliburton in the same line as LeBron James.
"What the helly? What the hellyanté? What the helly on? What the helly, Berry? What the helly, Burton? What the helly, 'Bron James? What the helly Cyrus?"
The song has been streamed more than a half-million times on Spotify in its first week of being released, and Haliburton thinks it's the coolest thing to happen to him.
"Shoutout Rob49, that's fire," he said on Wednesday. "This song is getting big on TikTok, and everyone laughed at me."
Teammate Pascal Siakam was less than impressed, although he has been name-dropped several times over his career, mostly referencing his success with the Toronto Raptors.
"I didn't hear it," confessed Siakam. "That's fire though."
Siakam was quick to remind reporters that being name-dropped is nothing new to him, and Haliburton was quick to list off some songs his teammate has been in.
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 12:46 PM.