Tyrese Haliburton regrets what he did to Damian Lillard and seeks his forgiveness

Tyrese Haliburton wants to leave behind the conflict that arose with Damian Lillard after mimicking the famous "Dame Time" celebration during the 2023 NBA Cup semifinals. The Indiana Pacers guard acknowledged that he regrets how his relationship with the Portland Trail Blazers player evolved and expressed his desire to talk to him in an attempt to resolve their differences before the 2026-27 season.

In an interview on The Zach Lowe Show, published on Thursday, Haliburton reflected on one of the most important moments of that first edition of the mid-season tournament, which ultimately served as a boost for the Pacers on their way to the NBA Finals in 2025. However, he also admitted that his celebration after hitting a crucial three-pointer against Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks had personal consequences that he would now like to correct.

The celebration that damaged his relationship with Lillard

The episode occurred during the 2023 NBA Cup semifinals. With less than a minute left, Haliburton hit a pivotal three-pointer in Indiana's victory over Milwaukee and pointed to his wrist to mimic Lillard's signature gesture, known as "Dame Time."

That celebration became one of the most memorable moments of the game, but it also harmed the relationship between the two players. Haliburton explained that Lillard had been a figure he admired for years and had paid attention to him during the early steps of his professional career.

"I think what I regret the most is what our relationship has become between Dame and me," Haliburton told Lowe. "Because he was someone who was very attentive to me at the beginning of my career, especially when I was traded [from the Kings to the Pacers in 2022]."

The Indiana guard acknowledged that the gesture went beyond the sports rivalry that existed at the time. Although that edition of the NBA Cup was important for the competitive growth of the Pacers, Haliburton believes that the episode came at a cost to his relationship with a player he had followed for much of his life.

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Haliburton takes responsibility and wants to talk to Lillard

The Pacers player did not try to downplay what happened. In his conversation with Zach Lowe, he admitted that he got carried away by the moment and that his celebration may have been excessive. Now, his intention is to restore a cordial relationship with Lillard and move past a conflict that, in his own words, ended up taking on a greater dimension than necessary.

"I would love to have a conversation [with Lillard] because I think this all went further than necessary," Haliburton told Lowe. "I take responsibility. I was young, I was in the moment, I was having fun with it, but it was probably a bit excessive. And what happened afterward, well, it happened."

Haliburton also explained that he had an opportunity to meet with Lillard, who returned to the Trail Blazers during the 2025 offseason after being released by the Bucks. However, he could not travel to Portland due to an outbreak of shingles and missed the chance to have that conversation.

The Indiana guard made it clear that he does not necessarily expect to immediately restore the relationship they had before the incident, but he would like to take the first step toward resolving the situation.

He added that he hoped they could "at least be cordial again."

Both return after suffering Achilles tendon ruptures

The possibility of Haliburton and Lillard talking acquires special context because both have gone through a long recovery process. Neither played last season after suffering Achilles tendon ruptures during the 2025 playoffs.

Both are recovered for the start of the 2026-27 season and have played in preseason games this week. Their return opens the possibility of them meeting again on the court during official competition.

The first scheduled matchup will take place on December 17, when the Trail Blazers visit Indiana. Subsequently, the Pacers will travel to Portland on February 18. Those dates could present an opportunity for both players to cross paths, although Haliburton has not confirmed that a conversation will happen on either of those occasions.

Haliburton is also working to regain his best rhythm

Beyond his desire to resolve the conflict with Lillard, Haliburton also spoke about the adjustments he needs to make after returning to competition. After missing the previous season due to the injury suffered during the 2025 playoffs, the guard believes he needs to readjust to the pace of the games.

"That will be the biggest adjustment for me: just slowing down a bit," he said.

Thus, the player is facing the start of the season with two important issues: gradually regaining his feelings on the court and trying to close a personal chapter that opened with that NBA Cup celebration. Haliburton has already publicly acknowledged his part of the responsibility and expressed his willingness to talk to Lillard.

For now, the Indiana guard's desire is simple: to move past a controversy he considers excessive and to regain, at least, a cordial relationship with one of the figures he admired before becoming an NBA star.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tyrese Haliburton se arrepiente de lo que hizo con Damian Lillard y busca su perdón