Brenda Haliburton has been Tyrese’s biggest supporter since day one, rarely missing a game throughout his basketball journey. Haliburton’s fiancée, Jade Jones, entered the picture when the couple met as students at Iowa State University in 2019, beginning a relationship that has now lasted six years. Both women have become constant, supportive figures in the Pacers star’s life, frequently appearing together courtside during Indiana’s memorable playoff run last season.

Their public bond appears strong, with Jones even referring to Brenda as her “second mama” in a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram last November. However, in a recent candid interview, Haliburton revealed that this now-solid relationship had a somewhat rocky beginning. The NBA star decided to pull back the curtain on the initial dynamics between the two most important women in his life.

During an appearance on the ‘What’s Your Story With Steph McMahon’ YouTube channel, Haliburton opened up about the early tension. “I think at first there was a little like there always is for, I’m my mom’s baby,” he admitted with a laugh. He explained that his own communication habits played a significant role, stating, “And I’m not the greatest communicator. So when my mom wants to know everything that’s going on and when I don’t tell her, then it was like it was Jade’s fault that I wasn’t telling her”.

Haliburton, who jokingly called himself the “golden child” who rarely got yelled at, said his mother would look for someone to hold accountable. “So my mom was like, who do I put the blame on? It would be Jade,” he revealed. This initial friction, common when a new partner enters a close-knit family, created a challenging dynamic. The situation required a significant event to truly bring his mom and then-girlfriend together.

The turning point came when Haliburton was unexpectedly traded to the Indiana Pacers. “When I got traded here to Indiana and I had to leave the next day to get here and my mom and Jade had to put together how are we gonna sell all the furniture, how are we gonna get rid of everything and get the dogs here and coordinate everything like that,” he explained. That forced collaboration transformed their relationship completely. “They have been thick as thieves ever since,” Haliburton said, noting they now even team up to hold him accountable when he fails to communicate properly.

This heartwarming resolution shows how a difficult situation ultimately strengthened their family bond, turning initial tension into an actual familial alliance. Jones, who works as an educator, recently got engaged with the Pacers star in July 2025 at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum, a location which is significant to the couple. The two also share a dog Ames, and have continued to be very vocal supporters of each other on social media. Jones may have initially struggled to create a bond with Brenda. However, just like how Tyrese and Jade’s relationship have gone strength-to-strength, the two women seem to have left behind those days as well.

Jade and Brenda firmly a part of Tyrese Haliburton’s support unit

Jade has made her bond with Brenda visible in small but meaningful posts that fans notice. She posted an Instagram tribute calling Brenda her “second mama” and thanked her with a long message that included “I love traveling the world and doing life adventures with you.” She also called Brenda the glue of the family, and the strong connection between the two has regularly been on display, especially during important moments for Tyrese.

Last season, on Mother’s Day during the Pacers’ playoff series against Cleveland, Jade posted a sweet photo with Brenda courtside, both wearing Pacers gear. The public gesture highlighted their united front in supporting the NBA star.

Jones’ social media tribute to Brenda last year went even further in expressing her affection. In her birthday message, she wrote, “What would we do without you… You are the glue to this family & hold us all together! I love you so much!!!” This sentiment underscores how their relationship has evolved from tentative beginnings to a genuine, familial bond.

That public warmth matters because Tyrese faces a long recovery and a wedding to plan at the same time. He has written about faith and grit on social platforms, noting “At 25, I’ve already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle,” and the couple’s public gestures toward Brenda show a family built to carry that load together.

Of course, Tyrese also needs all the support that he can garner from his loved ones. Despite putting his body on the line last season, his team fell short against the OKC Thunder and Haliburton returned with a severe Achilles tendon rupture that puts his availability until the 2026-27 season under doubt.