Pacers Star Invites Heckled Fan to Eastern Conference Game

Indianapolis, IN – A fan who faced ridicule while wearing a Pacers jersey on the streets of New York City has received a special invitation to attend Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. Hans Perez, a firefighter and lifelong Pacers supporter, shared his story on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, revealing that he has a tattoo of the team on his wrist.

During a video call from Indianapolis, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton expressed his support for Perez. “Everybody in our organization wants to make sure you’re taken care of,” Haliburton told him. “It’s all we’ve been talking about.” The community’s generous outreach comes after Perez was heckled and pelted with garbage bags by a crowd celebrating the Pacers’ victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The incident captured attention on social media, with video showing the aggressive crowd following Perez as he remained resilient. Even after being struck twice with trash, he continued walking, showcasing his dedication to his team.

Haliburton’s invitation to Perez includes a guest, providing him with an opportunity to see the team play live. “I’m pretty sure we can work something out,” Perez said about arranging time off from work. He expressed his gratitude to Haliburton and joined in a spontaneous “Let’s Go Pacers” chant.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers is set for Wednesday night in New York.