Trick Williams has offered high praise for Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s work in WWE, calling his friend a natural performer and pointing to Haliburton’s evident passion for professional wrestling as the foundation of his on-screen success.
Haliburton has become one of the more recognizable active NBA players to step into the WWE environment in recent years. While celebrity appearances can often be treated as a short-term attraction, the Pacers guard has consistently emphasized that his involvement comes from a genuine desire to participate in a product he has followed as a fan. Williams, who has shared WWE television time with Haliburton in NXT, believes that authenticity is clear when Haliburton is placed in front of a live crowd.
“I mean, my boy’s a natural,” Williams said. “You can tell that he studies the product. He’s been watching for a very, very long time. Because when the lights are on, he doesn’t choke.”
For Williams, the key is not simply that Haliburton is comfortable being visible on WWE programming. It is that he understands the setting, the audience, and the pressure that comes with taking part in a live wrestling segment. WWE appearances can demand quick reactions, timing, confidence and a willingness to embrace a crowd response that may be enthusiastic, hostile or somewhere in between. Williams sees Haliburton as someone who has handled those demands effectively.
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The former NXT Champion also spoke positively about watching Haliburton operate in a building with significant personal meaning. Williams noted Haliburton’s history at Madison Square Garden, a venue regularly referred to as “the Garden,” and said it was particularly cool to see him in that environment. Haliburton’s basketball career has put him in high-profile arenas and major sporting moments, but WWE presents its own distinct form of spotlight, with performers required to connect directly with an unpredictable audience.
“It’s cool to see him in his element,” Williams said. “And, you know, he has history in the Garden, too. So, that was pretty cool, too. But, yeah, man, I’m proud of him.”
Haliburton recalls sharing an NXT ring with Williams
Haliburton was appreciative of Williams’ comments and reflected on the early stages of his own WWE experience. He identified an NXT appearance involving Williams and Ethan Page as one of his first times on WWE television, recalling both the excitement of being involved and the nerves that came with standing in the ring.
For an athlete accustomed to enormous NBA crowds, appearing in a WWE ring is still a very different challenge. A basketball game allows players to rely on the structure of the sport and the presence of teammates. In a wrestling segment, particularly one involving a celebrity guest, the performer can feel far more exposed. The audience’s focus is concentrated on the ring, and a guest has to respond in the moment while maintaining the tone of the segment.
“My first time on WWE TV — or actually, my second time on WWE TV — was with Trick and Ethan Page at NXT, which was a lot of fun for me,” Haliburton said. “I was in the ring alone, and I was like, ‘Damn, if I mess up, there’s nobody here to save me out here.’ You just gotta figure it out. And that was fun for me.”
That memory also illustrates why Williams’ endorsement carries weight. Their connection was not formed through a single public appearance from a distance. Haliburton said that working together at NXT helped establish their relationship, and the two have remained close since.
“Me and Trick have been cool ever since,” Haliburton said. “So, yeah, anytime I get to do anything on WWE TV, it’s fun.”
Williams has developed his own reputation as a charismatic live performer through his rise in NXT, where crowd engagement and a strong on-camera presence have been central to his presentation. His assessment of Haliburton therefore comes from someone familiar with the pressure of standing before a WWE audience. Rather than framing Haliburton as an athlete making a one-off promotional stop, Williams described him as a longtime viewer who has put in the attention required to understand what WWE asks of its personalities.
A celebrity appearance comes with a divided reaction
Haliburton also addressed an unavoidable reality of celebrity involvement in wrestling: not every fan welcomes it. Major sports figures can bring added attention to WWE programming, but some viewers are immediately excited by the crossover while others would rather see that time devoted solely to wrestlers who are on the roster week after week.
The Pacers star said he and Jalen Brunson — referred to by Haliburton as J.B. — have discussed that split reaction. Both understand that a celebrity can receive sharply different responses from the same crowd, even when that celebrity has a sincere connection to wrestling.
“It’s weird, me and J.B. talk about this all the time,” Haliburton said. “When you’re like a celebrity, half the fans are excited and half the fans are pissed that you’re there.”
That perspective is notable because Haliburton is not presenting WWE appearances as an automatic victory lap. He recognizes the skepticism that can meet celebrities in a wrestling setting. WWE fans are often protective of the performers and stories they follow, particularly when a guest is placed in a prominent position. The most successful guest appearances tend to be the ones in which the celebrity understands that they are entering an existing world rather than becoming the entire focus of it.
Haliburton’s stated approach is aligned with that idea. He said his interest in WWE is not driven by a need to sell a project or attach his name to a promotional campaign. Instead, he wants to be there because he is a fan of professional wrestling. That distinction matters in an environment where audiences can quickly determine whether a guest seems invested in the moment or simply passing through for publicity.
Haliburton wants to add to WWE, not distract from it
Haliburton also discussed his appearance at Saturday Night’s Main Event and reiterated his broader goal when he is involved with WWE programming. As a celebrity guest, he wants to contribute to the show rather than pull attention away from the wrestlers and stories that are meant to drive it.
It is a measured approach that fits with Williams’ description of Haliburton as someone who studies the product. Knowing the product is about more than recognizing names or enjoying entrances. It also means appreciating pacing, crowd reactions, the role of a guest within a segment, and the importance of letting the full-time performers remain at the center of the presentation.
Haliburton’s willingness to acknowledge the unusual position of a celebrity in wrestling may be one reason his WWE involvement has resonated with those who have worked alongside him. He has the profile of a major professional athlete, but he has also spoken openly about the nerves that accompanied his early NXT experience. Rather than acting as though the transition to a WWE ring was effortless, he described the need to work through the uncertainty of being alone before a live audience.
That openness also helps explain Williams’ praise. The former NXT Champion did not merely compliment Haliburton’s celebrity status or athletic résumé. He specifically highlighted his ability to perform once “the lights are on,” a quality that matters in WWE regardless of a person’s background. The ring and the live audience can expose hesitation quickly, especially when a celebrity must react in real time.
For now, Haliburton’s comments suggest he remains eager for future opportunities whenever WWE invites him back into the fold. His relationship with Williams gives those appearances an established connection, while his familiarity with WWE’s environment appears to have grown from the nerves he felt during his earlier NXT involvement.
Williams’ public support reinforces the point. In his view, Haliburton is not simply a famous guest who happens to show up on wrestling television. He is a committed fan who has earned respect by embracing the challenge of the format, staying composed in high-pressure moments and looking for ways to enhance the WWE product.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.