In the 2024-25 playoffs, Tyrese Haliburton showed what makes sports interesting: effort, composure, and commitment. From leading late comebacks to beating the hardwood in pain in the first quarter of Game 7, he earned lasting respect from fans. But this week, though, attention shifted off the court. Haliburton was seen on the bench in a Chicago Cubs jersey, a simple gesture that stirred debate and reopened discussions about his canceled first-pitch invite and the uneasy ties with his hometown.

The image was simple, with Haliburton in the preseason game standing courtside at the Pacers’ game with a Cubs jersey draped over his shoulders. It was all over social feeds during the preseason game on Saturday, October 11, and instantly produced a mix of amusement and questions. Was it a fashion choice? A subtle jab? Let’s discover.

Why was Tyrese Haliburton wearing a Cubs jersey?

 Haliburton is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which is a state where allegiances to the Brewers run deep. And then, the Chicago Cubs are rivals to them. So what forced the homeboy to poke his own people? Context matters here.

His relationship with the Milwaukee baseball team has been strained publicly since he said a scheduled first-pitch appearance was scrapped after the Pacers eliminated the Bucks in two successive playoffs. Haliburton said, “I’m not really welcome in Wisconsin as much these days.”

Hali was also set to throw out a first pitch, but the Brewers pulled the plan after the postseason outcome. He joked, which led to him stepping away from being a Brewers fan. That backstory reframes the Cubs jersey. Sadly, the Brewers have ruined Hali’s plan for the night as they have shown the exit doors to the Cubs earlier today. Milwaukee’s streak of six consecutive postseason series losses ended by sending the rival Cubs home as they prepare onward to the NLCS against the star-studded LA Dodgers.

For some fans, it was a harmless nod to Chicago. For others, it read like a small, public act in a larger personal narrative about being welcomed or shut out by a hometown franchise.

Tyrese Haliburton and the Brewers’ First Pitch Controversy

The first-pitch incident dates to last summer. Haliburton said he had been invited to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a Brewers game. After the Pacers’ playoff run, which ended another Milwaukee season, the team reportedly rescinded that invitation. Haliburton publicly referenced the change the following spring, saying the canceled appearance was the reason he considered himself “no longer a Brewers fan.”

“I was a Brewers fan, and then I was supposed to throw the first pitch last summer, and then they X’d that after the playoffs ended. So I said, you know what, I’m no longer a Brewers fan,” Haliburton said. The reaction to his wearing the Cubs jersey now was immediate and sharp. 

Some Wisconsin fans took it personally. Others treated it as standard PR as teams adjust appearances for myriad reasons. Still, the optics were poor. A hometown player publicly saying his invitation was withdrawn by the Brewers fed a narrative about being punished for on-court success.

Social posts amplified the sting, with some fans lobbing insults and calling Haliburton a traitor. Others defended him, noting the Brewers were likely protecting their brand during a sensitive playoff window. Haliburton’s own tone on social media has been measured. But is Haliburton really a Cubs fan? 

Is Tyrese Haliburton a Chicago Cubs fan?

The short answer is… not strictly. Haliburton has worn many jerseys and shown a broad appreciation for sports culture. The Cubs jersey appears to be more of a moment when the MLB also had a powerful night. He’s been photographed in different team gear over the years. He’s also publicly named other teams and players, and even games like WWE, that he follows closely.

Where things get messy is what fans infer. In pro sports, gestures like jerseys carry meaning. For a Wisconsin native whose first-pitch invite was rescinded, a Cubs jersey reads louder than a regular piece of clothing. Some fans read it as a snub to the Brewers. Others read it as playful disloyalty. Either way, it was always inevitably going to generate a reaction.

But this incident is mostly optics, not drama for the Pacers. On the court, Haliburton’s status and contract remain unchanged. Off the court, it’s a reminder of how athletes’ small choices get amplified in the social era. A single jersey can become a statement, accidental or intentional, and land a player in the middle of a social-media feud.

In 2025, athletes and audiences are negotiating loyalty in public. Jerseys are no longer just clothing, but the very factor of one’s commitment. Hali, for now, has failed that loyalty, all by staying loyal to the team he should be, the Pacers.