In the wake of the Indiana Pacers’ thrilling 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, a disturbing trend has emerged among some Pacers fans. Following Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining on June 5, 2025, certain fans have taken to social media to celebrate the victory in a manner that is not only distasteful but deeply offensive.
Posts featuring images of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, captioned with phrases like “The Haliban to OKC,” have surfaced, attempting to draw a crude parallel between Haliburton’s heroics and one of the most tragic events in American history. This behavior is disgusting, immoral, and in profoundly bad taste, casting a shadow over what should be a moment of pride for the Pacers’ fanbase.
The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing was a domestic terrorist attack that claimed 168 lives, including 19 children, and injured over 680 others when a truck bomb detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. It remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, leaving a permanent scar on the city and its residents. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum stands as a testament to the lives lost and the resilience of the community, which has worked tirelessly to heal and honor the memory of the victims. For Pacers fans to invoke this tragedy as a means of celebrating a basketball victory is not only insensitive but a gross misrepresentation of what sports rivalries should embody.
Tyrese Haliburton’s performance in Game 1 was undeniably remarkable. The Pacers, trailing by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, staged a comeback that tied for the largest in an NBA Finals game since 1971. Haliburton, despite scoring only six points for most of the game, delivered when it mattered most, sinking a 20-foot jumper over Thunder guard Cason Wallace to secure Indiana’s first lead of the night and the win.
His clutch play added to an already impressive postseason resume, with multiple game-winning or game-tying shots in the 2025 playoffs alone. The term “Haliban,” a playful nickname coined by fans to celebrate Haliburton’s leadership and flair, reflects the excitement surrounding his rise as a star for the Pacers, who are making their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.
However, the decision by some fans to pair this nickname with imagery of the Oklahoma City bombing crosses a line from spirited fandom into callous disregard for human suffering. Social media posts, such as one highlighted by an X user on June 6, 2025, show fans sharing photos of the bombed-out Murrah building with captions like “The Haliban to OKC,” attempting to equate Haliburton’s game-winner with a destructive “invasion.”
These posts have drawn swift backlash, with other users expressing outrage at the insensitivity, particularly given the bombing’s profound impact on Oklahoma City. One X user noted, “Joking about dead kids after [Game 1]… Pacers and their fans don’t deserve to win after some s*** like this.” The sentiment underscores the gravity of the offense, as the bombing is not a distant historical event but a lived trauma for many in the Oklahoma City community.
The Thunder, who relocated to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008, have made a point of integrating into the city’s fabric, including educating players and staff about the bombing’s significance. Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, who joined the team in 2024, spoke about learning the city’s history, stating, “I think it just helped me kind of understand what the city’s been through… and how connective and supportive the city is.” This commitment reflects Oklahoma City’s resilience and unity, qualities that make the fans’ posts all the more jarring. For a franchise and a city that hold the memory of the bombing in such reverence, these social media jabs are a painful reminder of how sports rivalries can sometimes spiral into cruelty.
The Pacers’ organization and their broader fanbase should not be wholly defined by the actions of a few. Indiana fans packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a watch party on June 5, 2025, erupting in celebration as Haliburton’s shot went through the net, showcasing the passion and dedication of a fanbase that has waited 25 years for another shot at an NBA title. The team’s improbable run, fueled by Haliburton’s playmaking and contributions from players like Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Obi Toppin, has been a source of pride for Indianapolis.
Yet, the reckless behavior of some fans risks tarnishing this moment. The Pacers’ social media team has been quick to engage in lighthearted trolling of opponents, such as their jabs at the New York Knicks after winning the Eastern Conference Finals, but there is a clear distinction between playful banter and exploiting a tragedy for cheap laughs.
This is not a good look for Pacers fans. Sports rivalries thrive on passion, creativity, and camaraderie, not on mocking the pain of others. The “Haliban” moniker could be a fun and fitting tribute to Tyrese Haliburton’s ability to lead his team to improbable victories, but pairing it with imagery of a terrorist attack is indefensible. It alienates those who support the team and disrespects a city still healing from its past.
As the NBA Finals continue, with Game 2 set for June 8, 2025, in Oklahoma City, Pacers fans have an opportunity to show their true colors—those of a proud, respectful fanbase that celebrates their team’s success without stooping to cruelty. The focus should remain on the court, where Haliburton and the Pacers are proving they belong, not on social media posts that diminish the humanity of others.
In a series already defined by high stakes and intense competition, let’s hope Pacers fans redirect their energy toward uplifting their team rather than tearing down a city’s painful history. The 2025 NBA Finals deserve to be remembered for moments like Haliburton’s clutch jumper, not for the thoughtless actions of a few.
