Fatherhood in the high-stakes landscape of professional sports is too often viewed through a transactional lens—a calculated matrix of early-morning gym sessions, AAU logistics, and modern brand management. But when Father’s Day arrives, the gloss of the multi-million dollar contracts fades, exposing the raw, human foundation that makes or breaks a young athlete’s spirit. To sit down with John Haliburton is to understand a parenting philosophy that entirely defies contemporary conventions. For John, being a dad isn’t an offseason assignment or a single celebratory day marked on a calendar in June; it is an unconditional, daily covenant rooted in relentless faith, absolute validation, and an unshakeable willingness to protect his own.

This Father’s Day hits differently for the Haliburton patriarch, coming on the heels of a year that tested that very foundation in front of millions. The world watched the ultimate emotional rollercoaster: from the intense, viral theater of a playoff rivalry with the New York Knicks, to a historic march to the NBA Finals, culminating in the sudden, agonizing heartbreak of Tyrese’s Game 7 Achilles injury. Through the highest peaks of NBA stardom and the quietest rooms of a medical facility, John has remained the ultimate anchor for the Indiana Pacers’ franchise point guard. In this exclusive conversation, John opens up about his own Wisconsin roots, the tight-knit fraternity of NBA dads, the power of eliminating backup plans, and why the Haliburton name stands for something far greater than basketball.

Part 1: The Foundation & The Wisconsin Roots

Before an athlete can ever step onto a professional stage, the foundational habits, worldview, and unshakeable confidence are forged entirely at home. In this opening portion, John Haliburton reflects on his own entry into sports as a multi-sport athlete, navigating a childhood without his father present, and how those personal trials shaped the uncompromising blueprint he used to raise his children in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

It is a raw look at how a community raised a man, and how that man resolved to build an entirely different reality for his own son.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Every great basketball story has a definitive start line. What was your personal point of entry to the game? Was it a specific player, a local playground, or just a neighborhood tradition that made you fall in love with hoops?

John Haliburton: I would have to say it was just a neighborhood tradition, to be honest with you. I could play the game, but I was lacking a lot of technical things because I was primarily a track star and a football player. When I first picked up basketball, I couldn’t dribble. I could score, I could jump, and I could rebound—I’ve always been able to do that. I could kill it with that in the neighborhood, and everybody knew me for my scoring. But I was honestly scared of the basketball at first because that thing bounces up and I just didn’t know how to control my movements with it in my hand. So, it was the neighborhood. The neighborhood completely captured my interest in basketball.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Growing up, what were the core memories of your own background that shaped your worldview, and how did those experiences influence the values you wanted to instill in Tyrese growing up in Oshkosh?

John Haliburton: Well, with Father’s Day coming up, that’s when the world celebrates it. But I’ll tell you what I think: I don’t lay down for just one day. Every day is Father’s Day to me because I’m a father every single day.

Growing up, my father was around, but he wasn’t in my life. Watching that as a kid, I really had to rely on the streets—and when I say the streets, I mean the neighborhood—to raise me and point me in the direction I needed to go. I was fortunate to have lots and lots of “brothers” in the neighborhood. Those brothers recognized my talent, and they wouldn’t allow me to just hang out on the street corner. They forced me to stay in school and play sports because they knew I was good at it. They shaped me into the man I am. Because my dad wasn’t there for me, I was determined that when I had kids, I was going to be there for them 110%.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Tyrese has shared memories of you coaching a middle school girls’ basketball team when he was just a toddler, giving him a ball and letting him have half the court to explore. When you look back at those early days, did you envision basketball being the literal vehicle for his life, or were you just trying to share a game you loved with your boy?

John Haliburton: Well, first of all, let’s correct one detail: people say it was a “light” basketball, but it was a regular, regulation girls’ basketball because I was coaching the girls’ team. He was dribbling the real thing from day one! There was nothing light about it.

To be honest with you, I just wanted him to be involved in something. I was hoping he would choose sports—whether it was football, track, or basketball. He chose two of them: football and basketball, and he was very, very good at both. Watching him as a kid, I just saw this unmatched determination to be great at whatever he put his mind to.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: There’s a story that when Tyrese was very little and declared he wanted to be in the league, you bought him a shirt that simply said “NBA Player.” Why was it so important to you to visually and actively validate his biggest dreams right from the jump, rather than telling him to have a backup plan?

John Haliburton: Because I am the type of person who does not believe in backup plans. I know people say you’re supposed to have one, but that’s just not who I am. I believe that if you have a dream and you put the work in, the only thing that can stop that dream from coming true is you. It doesn’t matter what other people say. You just keep doing what you’re doing.

God is faithful enough to bless you, remove the negative things in your way, and give you the opportunity to reach your dream—as long as your dream doesn’t contradict God. Basketball, and his dream to be an NBA player, didn’t contradict God because I helped him recognize early on that God is first. Then everything else falls into place. Without God, it means nothing. With Him, it means everything. When you’re blessed, you get a chance to do exactly what the Lord says: bless others. I believed in that, I was fortunate enough to be a part of it, and it’s just an outright blessing.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Tyrese plays with an undeniable joy, a loud flair, and a massive smile. When you look at his personality on the court, how much of that is a direct reflection of you and the environment you raised him in?

John Haliburton: I would say it’s a direct reflection of me—like 100%. When I played, whether it was track, football, or basketball, I genuinely enjoyed it. I always had a smile on my face because I was just thanking God that I was able to do it. I didn’t even have to tell Tyrese to do that; he picked that up on his own. He went out there, enjoyed himself, and let that smile show it.

I told him later on: “The day you lose that smile is the day you no longer need to be doing this, because it means you don’t love it anymore. It’s become a job, and when it becomes a job, it’s not fun.” I told him he has to enjoy himself because that energy is contagious to the people around him. When you enjoy yourself, the people around you start enjoying themselves, and that’s how a team becomes successful. You have to lead that and keep that smile going, no matter how bad things get. Keep smiling because God is faithful enough to pick you back up and put you right back in the same position, if not a better one. So yeah, he took that right from me. Whenever you see me or talk to me, I’m always laughing.

Part 2: Culture, Business, & The Fatherhood Fraternity

As an NBA superstar rises, the family dynamic inevitably expands into the broader cultural and commercial ecosystem of the league. 

Here, John Haliburton discusses how his background as an entrepreneur and referee allowed him to anchor Tyrese as the young guard transitioned into the CEO of his own brand. 

From the surreal experience of hearing the family name immortalized in rap lyrics to finding a peer group within an exclusive fraternity of NBA fathers, this segment explores the complex intersection of family, business, and modern basketball culture.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: It’s one thing to see your son’s name on the back of an NBA jersey. It’s an entirely different thing to hear your last name dropped in hip-hop songs and rap lyrics—like Rob49’s “WTHELLY” turning into a Haliburton anthem. As a father, what went through your mind the first time you heard the family name being blasted on a track? Where were you?

John Haliburton: All right, let’s be real—let me throw it at you. That’s my name. That’s my last name. Tyrese has that name because of me. So to hear my last name in a record because of my son? I thought it was one of the best things that could happen in this world. To be recognized like that forever, because that song will be here forever.

The first time I heard it, Tyrese already knew about it because he was already kicking it. But I hadn’t listened to it yet because his music and my music are usually different—I’m an ’80s and ’90s R&B and hip-hop guy. Tyrese loves the old school too, but he’s new school and loves the beats. I was scrolling through X [formerly Twitter] and saw the song. I went, “What is that?” I replayed it, and I immediately called him: “Tyrese, did you hear this song?” He just laughed and said, “Yeah, Dad.” I was like, “Whoa, okay!” It became even more real when I actually met Rob49 and he was sitting right next to me. Very humbly, my chest stuck out. I know where I come from, I know where this began, and I know how it’s going to end, so I am just beyond grateful.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Beyond being a referee and a coach, you’ve navigated the world as an entrepreneur. How has your background in business and running your own plays influenced the way you’ve advised Tyrese on managing his career, his personal brand, and his long-term wealth off the hardwood?

John Haliburton: I want to share this because I want all the fathers out there to hear me: First, there is God. Whether you believe it or not, it’s not going to change the fact that God is your God. For me, I made sure I had a personal relationship with Him because nothing was going to work without Him. Once I had that established, only then could I walk up to my children and show them how important it is. I always remind them: God first, everything else second.

Tyrese is the type of kid who just catches on. He can pretty much read me and know exactly what I want, so I didn’t have to do a whole lot of repeating myself. Fathers need to understand this: your kid has to want it for themselves, not for you. I had my own sports dreams once upon a time, and it didn’t work out. My dream is not his dream. It had to be his dream. Because he wanted it so badly, whatever direction I gave him on or off the court, he took it in and put it together in his own unique way.

He would literally go on his video games, create himself as a player, practice the moves I told him about on the game, master them there, and then go out on the actual hardwood and clear it out. It was mind-boggling. You would have to be there to see it to believe it.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: There’s a unique, very exclusive fraternity of men who understand exactly what it feels like to sit in those arena seats and watch their sons play at the highest level. Which other NBA fathers have you grown close with or lean on for mutual support through this wild journey?

John Haliburton: Oh, there’s quite a few of them. Within the Pacers organization, I talk a lot with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s father—he always checks in on me and calls me. Isaiah Jackson’s dad and I are very close and talk all the time. Jarace Walker’s dad, too.

Whenever we can, we all get together. I’m actually looking at a picture of us right now on my wall—I’ll take a picture of it and text it to you so you can see it. We call it the fatherhood circle. We actually did an engagement called the Fatherhood Fireside Chat, and it was just a beautiful thing to experience. We feed off each other, we bounce things off each other, and it’s a great feeling because we realize none of us are too far apart on this journey. I’ve developed a lot of close relationships with dads inside the NBA, and even outside of it through the Fatherhood Association.

Part 3: Navigating Highs, Lows & Playoff Feuds

Operating under the bright lights of the NBA postseason requires an athletes’ inner circle to balance immense public scrutiny with private stability. 

In this section, John Haliburton breaks down the tightrope walk of protecting his son in a hyper-visible corporate sports world while navigating the intense emotions of the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

From handling viral sideline moments to silencing a hostile Madison Square Garden crowd during a fierce postseason rivalry, John reveals how an unyielding father-son boundary keeps the outside noise exactly where it belongs—on the outside.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When they are kids, you are the absolute authority. When they reach the NBA, they suddenly become the CEO of their own massive enterprise. How has your relationship with Tyrese evolved from you being the primary teacher to now walking alongside him as a peer and a trusted advisor?

John Haliburton: I keep it strictly as father and son. That bond runs deeper than anything else. I am his dad, he is my son, and if he can’t trust me, he can’t trust anybody, period. We walk hand-in-hand, and he knows deeply that I want absolutely nothing but good things for him. He doesn’t have to worry about that at all. He’s a happy kid, and it’s good for him to have both his mom and his dad surrounding him to make sure he’s doing the right thing by God, by himself, and by the people.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: As a father, you are his protector, but you’re also watching your son operate in a high-stakes, hyper-visible corporate world. How difficult is it to balance being a supportive dad with the intense scrutiny and media noise that comes with the NBA?

John Haliburton: Thanking the Lord, it actually hasn’t been that hard on us. That’s due to the fact that Tyrese has a great head on his shoulders. God blessed him with a great mind. When he was in school, he paid attention—not just to books, but to people. To me, that is the most important thing you can do in this lifetime, whether you are a CEO or whatever your title is: you have to pay attention to people. People will show you who they truly are, and it doesn’t take long. They have a way of telling you exactly who they are without ever saying a word.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Your passion as a father became a major storyline during the playoffs—from the viral courtside moments to having to watch games from afar for a stretch, to Tyrese actively campaigning to “free my pops.” Looking back on that whirlwind, what did that experience teach you about the bond you two share?

John Haliburton: I had a serious talk with my son about that entire situation. I know what he felt. He didn’t want any distractions because the team had their sights set on something big, and he didn’t want anything to interfere with that. I get it 150%.

But I also let him know that he is my child, and I will let absolutely nobody disrespect him or push him around as long as I live. I’m not saying he isn’t capable of taking care of himself—the country’s elite aren’t above that. The point is, he’s my child and I’m his father, and I’m not going to sit back and watch anybody try to bully him. There was a lot of stuff going on in the background that people didn’t know about, and I just left it alone. Did I want that kind of media backlash? No. But did it bother me? Not at all. People on the outside don’t know me. Those who do know me understood exactly what was happening.

When Tyrese stood up and told the media that I was wrong, I disagreed with him. I told him: “As long as I live, don’t ever tell anyone publicly that your dad is wrong. Never do that again. If you feel like I’m wrong, that is between me and you in private.” Just like if my son does something wrong, the world will never hear it from me. He will know it because I’ll talk to him directly, but the media and the public will never know.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: The Pacers’ playoff rivalry with the New York Knicks was absolute theater, and you were right in the thick of the energy. Now that the dust has settled, what are your actual thoughts on that Knicks team, the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, and the intense competitive respect built during that series?

John Haliburton: Man, let me tell you something—it was unreal. I loved it. I loved the competitive energy. But some of those young Knicks fans can be incredibly disrespectful. It’s not the older generation; it’s the younger guys coming in wearing the jerseys. You don’t have to take my word for it. Look at them now—they just won the NBA championship. You would think the city would be celebrating and having a safe, respectful, good time, but instead, they’re all over the news going crazy doing wild things.

When we played them in the playoffs and their fans were out on the street, I didn’t care anything about their noise. But they took a Haliburton jersey and burned it. They even targeted one of their own peers who just chose to represent Tyrese, and they threw garbage on him. To me, that is totally disrespectful. So going into their house, silencing them, and sending them back to their closets was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.

Part 4: Processing Heartbreak & The Long Road Back

The grandest athletic stages can shift from the peak of triumph to sudden heartbreak in a single, devastating sequence. In this segment, John Haliburton opens up about the raw vulnerability of watching his son suffer a major Achilles injury during the ultimate stakes of the NBA Finals. 

From shifting instantly into the role of a spiritual protector in a quiet locker room to charting the Pacers’ resilient path forward, John details how a family’s deep faith and small-town Wisconsin roots provide the blueprint to weather any storm.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: In Game 7 of the NBA Finals, every camera caught your reaction when Tyrese went down with that Achilles injury. In moments of sudden athletic heartbreak like that, how does the mindset instantly shift from sports dad to healer and protector?

John Haliburton: That’s very easy. He is my child first, and a basketball player second. The moment he went down, the basketball player was gone. It didn’t matter anymore. He was Tyrese Haliburton, the child of John and Brenda Haliburton.Getting him off that floor and into the back was the only thing that mattered. The game completely stopped for me. My child was laying down on that floor in pain, and it hurt me deeply. No father wants to see his child suffer or cry. I am prepared and ready to be his dad through anything, so that shift was very easy.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You shared the heavy news with the world right after it happened. When the noise of the arena clears out and it’s just family in the medical room, what is the message a father gives his son when his biggest dream is temporarily put on hold?

John Haliburton: What I said to him was that we have to rely on God’s plan. I’m not saying God caused the injury, because that’s not how it works. I know how the enemy operates—if you open the Bible to the Book of Job, starting at the very first chapter, you’ll see exactly how the devil tries to attack and test the righteous, but God sets the boundary that he cannot take your life. I knew Tyrese was facing a massive test.

I told him: “Look at what you still have. You didn’t lose your foot, you didn’t lose your hand, and your heart is still beating.” I know it hurt all of us deeply because we knew we were right there on the cusp of winning the NBA championship. We knew it belonged to us, and OKC knew it too. But God had a different path for us to walk first. Now we’re going to see how God plays it out when he comes back. I told him: “We are here as a family. We’ve got you. Basketball is secondary right now. As a family, you are loved, you are protected, and you are going to be good.”

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: While Tyrese is locked into his rehab from the Achilles injury, the Pacers have proven they belong at the absolute top of the Eastern Conference. What are your realistic hopes and expectations for this Indiana roster when they hit the floor next season?

John Haliburton: I expect them right at the top, I’m not going to lie to you. If you know basketball and you’ve been paying attention, you know that all of our rookies and second-year players got a chance to really go out there and grow through this run. They got a chance to experience the game at the highest level, slow it down, and understand exactly what it takes to win. Now, by the time Tyrese gets back on the floor, these young guys have already been through the fire. So you tell me—what is going to stop them from going to the top? New York won the championship this year, but they won it because Indiana wasn’t fully standing in their way at the very end. Next year, with Tyrese back, Indiana will be standing right there.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When Tyrese goes back to Wisconsin or hosts his community events, he isn’t just an NBA All-Star—he’s a symbol of hope for small-town kids with big dreams. When you see him interacting with the next generation of kids from your hometown, how much of your own civic values do you see coming to life through his platform?

John Haliburton: I see it completely, because when he isn’t there, I’m the one there on the ground. Parents bring their kids to me all the time—whether I’m refereeing on a court, walking through the mall, or out in the community. And I tell them all the same thing: “If Tyrese made it from right here, you can do the same thing.” You just have to develop the “I want to” mindset. Once you have that, the sky is the limit.

But you can’t lie to yourself. You can’t just say you want it without putting the effort into the craft. As long as you work hard and dedicate time to what you want to be great at, nothing can stop you. When Tyrese talks to these kids, showing them is better than just telling them. He tells them, “Hey, I came from right down the street. I walked these same paths, I drove to college just like you, and I hung out with my friends just like you.” He did nothing different—well, except for the fact that he never rode a bike because he actually doesn’t know how to ride one! That’s the only difference. Everything else he did was exactly what every kid today does. If they put the work into their plan, another name will rise up just like Tyrese Haliburton.

Part 5: The Essence of Father’s Day

At its core, the journey of fatherhood isn’t measured by a scoreboard, an accolade, or a financial milestone. 

In this final segment, John Haliburton distills his entire parenting philosophy down to its purest essence: a foundation built entirely on faith, family, and localized impact. 

From sharing a global commercial spotlight with his son to cementing a three-word legacy rooted in deep spiritual conviction, John shares his ultimate hopes for how the Haliburton name will be remembered long after the final whistle blows.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What is the most rewarding thing Tyrese has ever said to you or done for you as a son that let you know, “Okay, I did my job as a father”?

John Haliburton: If you watched his recent Puma campaign—the one called “I Made You Look”—that was huge for me. What was so incredible and showed me that I did my job was that I got the opportunity to actually be in that commercial alongside him. I got the chance to introduce my kid to Puma and to the world through that platform. It was a massive moment for me as a dad to have the world see us together and be able to say, “Look over there—that’s my boy.”

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: If you had to describe the blueprint of your parenting style in just three words—the exact philosophy that helped shape an NBA superstar and a high-character young man—what would those three words be?

John Haliburton: Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When people look at the Haliburton name years from now, what do you want that name to stand for completely separate from the game of basketball?

John Haliburton: I hope that when people hear the name Haliburton, they say: “They cared.” That’s all that matters to me. I want them to know that we cared about the community, we came back, we looked out for people, and we gave not only our money, but our time, our labor, and our conversation. I just want the world to know that the Haliburtons cared. We weren’t anything special—we were just blessed.

Wrapping Up

In an era dictated by hyper-curated media narratives, talking-head critiques, and corporate expectations, John Haliburton serves as a refreshing reminder of what sports fatherhood looks like at its most authentic core. He hasn’t just guided an elite athlete to the precipice of sports immortality; he has firmly anchored a young man whose signature trait remains an unyielding, infectious joy—a trait passed down directly through the family lineage.

John’s story is a powerful testament to the impact a dedicated father can have when he chooses to intentionally validate his child’s grandest ambitions from day one. As Tyrese diligently continues his meticulous rehabilitation ramp-up to step back onto the hardwood for training camp, he does so with the ultimate armor: a family infrastructure forged in faith, locked in step, and built to survive the fire. Beyond the All-Star selections, the max contracts, and the championship pursuits, the Haliburton legacy is already firmly secure. It isn’t defined by a Larry O’Brien trophy or a sneaker rollout; it’s etched in a simple, profound three-word blueprint that John Haliburton has modeled for his son since the early days in Oshkosh: they genuinely cared.