They threw trash at him. Yelled in his face. Mocked his jersey like it was a personal insult to the five boroughs. But Hans Perez? He just smiled, walked on, and let the moment speak for itself. And now? The moment spoke back. Madison Square Garden might’ve been a hostile jungle, but Tyrese Haliburton wasn’t about to let one of his own get lost in the noise.

Hans Perez, the fan who went viral for rocking a Haliburton jersey around MSG while soaking up all kinds of harassment from Knicks fans, finally got his moment as he finally met his hero, Tyrese Haliburton, in the flesh. And the cherry on top? Perez was invited to Game 4 by Haliburton himself! Some call it a courtesy, while others call it pure luck. But this was Indiana’s present in one frame, the heart of its fanbase in another. And somewhere in between? The ghost of Reggie Miller probably smirking in approval.

The Pacers’ official Instagram wasted no time in sharing this wholesome pregame moment with the caption — “Hans Perez, the fan who went viral for wearing a @tyresehaliburton jersey around Madison Square Garden ahead of our series against the Knicks, got to meet Tyrese during tonight’s pregame💛”

For those unaware of why this moment matters so much, Indiana Pacers fan Hans Perez, who is also a firefighter, was subjected to harassment by a group of unruly New York Knicks supporters outside Madison Square Garden. The incident occurred during the Knicks’ celebration following their Eastern Conference Semifinals victory over the Boston Celtics. Wearing a Tyrese Haliburton jersey, Perez became the target of verbal abuse and even had bags of trash hurled at him. Despite the hostility, he remained calm and chose to walk away from the confrontation with composure.

Oh, and by the way? The Pacers are leading the series 2-1, and Game 4 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse is set. Could this be the good karma Indy needs to close it out?

Looking ahead at Game 4 vs the Knicks after Haliburton flips the script into home court magic

The Knicks and Pacers, though, don’t just share playoff history. They share drama. Cinematic, decade-spanning, chest-thumping drama. The 90s gave us Miller Time, Spike Lee taunts, and enough fourth-quarter tension to power the Empire State Building. Now? It’s Haliburton’s era, and he’s not just channeling Reggie’s range but also echoing that same defiance in the process.

This series has been a warzone, and Haliburton has played like he knows it. After dropping 20 points and 7 assists in Game 3 to give Indiana a 2-1 series lead, Haliburton made sure everyone knew that more than just knowing the game, he basically owns it. And meeting Perez? That was more than PR fluff. That was pure fan validation. And if Tyrese Haliburton keeps this up, if the Pacers keep finding fuel in fan stories like Perez’s? We might be watching the blueprint for the next great Eastern Conference power.

But let’s be real, fans don’t get this kind of payoff often. Viral moments come and go. But when Haliburton took a second to dap up Perez before one of the most important games of the Pacers’ season? That said something about who he is, both on and off the court. About who they are, and about what this run is becoming.

Haliburton, contrary to not giving back to the fans, has been spotted signing autographs various times hours before and after the games, taking time with fans on the road, and even hopping into Twitch streams to talk basketball with random viewers. This moment with Perez wasn’t an anomaly. It was the continuation of a pattern of a guy who sees the fanbase as part of the team.

The league talks a lot about culture. And this moment right here is it. And now? Game 4 looms. The courts will get louder again soon. The trash talk will return. But Indiana has their leader. And behind him? A fanbase that refuses to back down, rightly so. Stay tuned. This rivalry’s next chapter is still being written.