Tyrese Haliburton’s famous “choke” gesture got viral in a hilarious way once again. To add context, Reggie Miller’s famous “choke” gesture in 1994, when he taunted Knicks legend Spike Lee after draining multiple crucial threes, has carried a storied weight in Pacers-Knicks lore.
Miller’s taunt became a symbol of stringing together improbable comebacks. On May 21, 2025, Haliburton hit a 2-point buzzer-beater with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to tie Game 1 at 125 apiece against the Knicks, mere moments before NBA referees confirmed the shot’s validity. This also pushed the game into overtime.
In that instant, the Pacers star stretched out both arms toward the hushed Garden faithful, mirroring Miller’s posture from 31 years prior. The result? A viral sensation, with some Pacers faithful amusingly dubbing Haliburton “Reggie 2.0” and a fan getting it tatted on his leg.
Pacers Superfan’s Tattoo of Tyrese Haliburton’s Reggie Miller Tribute Sparks Online Fever
Three days before the Finals tip-off, we revisit the tattoo reveal with fresh eyes. Behind every body art piece lie nerves, hope, and possibility for regret. One fan, however, stands unwavering. Gasps echoed on social media platforms, seeing Haliburton eternalized in ink on a fan’s body.
In the tattoo, Haliburton’s facial features were etched with photo-realistic precision. Every wrinkle of his jersey, his contracted facial and hand muscles were captured in the tattoo. Above his head, the words “What The” were scripted in flowing cursive, directly referencing the buzzer-beater that will now be etched in Pacers lore.
WTHaliburton⁉️🤣
Fan got a tattoo of the Hali choke celly 😅
(via kiraytattoos, h/t inkednba/IG) pic.twitter.com/eKTdt8JrPK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 3, 2025
Surrounding the image, stylized swirls of blue and gold smoke lend drama, while bold block letters on the jersey simply read: “Haliburton.” The post quickly amassed over 212,000 likes, prompting fellow supporters to reshare the tweet on social media.
In post-game interviews, Haliburton admitted he didn’t plan the homage. “I was going for the 2, and then Mikal hit the ball, and I didn’t know how much time was left, so I just tried to gather myself and knock the shot down,” he confessed.
“It’s hard not to recognize what he did in this building back in ‘94. I didn’t think—it just felt right,” Haliburton added. That spontaneous act managed to fuse decades of Pacers history in one fleeting moment, and now the fan’s tattoo ensures it will last a lifetime.
Last year, the two-time NBA All-Star wore Miller’s famous or infamous “choke” gesture hoodie to a postgame media conference.
Tyrese Haliburton is RUTHLESS 🤣
He wore a hoodie with Reggie Miller on it doing the choke sign after beating the Knicks in Game 7 😈
📸: @AngelaMoryanTV pic.twitter.com/zdeH0pKCAM
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 19, 2024
Coming back to the viral ink, for Pacers fans, the ink is more than body art. It’s a pledge. A pledge that Indiana’s revival is real. No matter how the Finals unfold against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, this moment exists beyond win or lose.
As the Pacers prepare for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 5, tension coexists with unbridled excitement. When Haliburton steps onto the court, there will be some who will remember this tattoo and exactly where they were.
The NBA Finals cannot start soon enough—but for Pacers Nation, the season has already been inked in indigo and gold, one choke gesture at a time.
