Despite being franchise rivals, Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson were playing for Team USA last summer, where they developed a good bond with each other.

Tyrese Haliburton (in circle), Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson

In an all-exclusive news of the New York Knicks side, Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets was traded to the Knicks as per Adrian Wojnarowski. This trade move caused a stir in the NBA community, with a few Knicks stars reacting to Bridges’ trade. Notably, the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton also weighed in on Bridges joining the Knicks on the Pat McAfee show.

McAfee and Haliburton talked about how the Indiana Pacers were the reason for making this move. Some, however, asserted that it was done to defeat the Boston Celtics. In the Eastern Conference, both clubs are the Knicks’ competitors. In addition, Haliburton also chimed in with a hilarious take on the three Knicks players, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and newly added Mikal Bridges.

I’m excited to see those guys together…We’re all friends… It’s true…We have a group chat… I have a group chat with those guys. So, it’s me, Mikal, Josh, and Jalen. So, if there’s any tampering evidence needed, I’m the guy to come to.

On the Pat McAfee show, Tyrese Haliburton said

Haliburton disclosed that he spoke with Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Mikal Bridges via group chat. The trio of players competed for Villanova in the 2016 final. Therefore, when discussing this trade (Bridges to Knicks), one may conclude that it is advantageous to the New York Knicks.

Tyrese Haliburton ‘became friends’ with Jalen Brunson at Team USA camp

The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers are arch-rivals in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. Similarly, despite being rivals, the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton became friends at Team USA camp last summer, when they played together. In an interview, Brunson shared his views on how the two stars became friends.

Great player. Didn’t really know him until  like, I knew of him, we met a couple of times — but we didn’t really become friends until last summer, great guy, great family. He became one of my friends, obviously through that [experience at the FIBA World Cup]...

In an interview, Jalen Brunson told the reporter

On the contrary, Haliburton and the Pacers side knocked out Brunson and his Knicks side in Game 7 of round 2 of the NBA Playoffs. Despite injuries ruining the Knicks’ momentum in the Playoffs, Haliburton and Co. got one over his ‘friend’ Brunson in the 2023-24 NBA playoffs.