Professional athletes, current or former, usually credit at least one of their parents, if not both, for supporting them throughout their careers. In the case of Tyrese Haliburton, his father, John, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks. Ever since his altercation with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court, to be exact.
Advertisement
But Tyrese’s mother has also been a constant presence in his career. Just that her persona and appearance on the stands have not been as loud as John’s.
Brenda Haliburton, the mother of the standout point guard for the Indiana Pacers, has been a central figure in his life and basketball journey. Here’s everything we know about Brenda.
Born and raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, she attended West High School in Oshkosh in her formative years. Eventually, Brenda tied the knot with John Haliburton, a former women’s basketball coach and current referee.
Together, they raised their family in Oshkosh, where Brenda has been a solid backer of Tyrese’s basketball career.
Marriage to John Haliburton
Brenda and John have had a strong and steady marriage since the late 1990s. Rather than pack up and move to a bigger city once their family was complete, they decided to bring up Tyrese, who was born on February 29, 2000, and his younger brother in Oshkosh.
That decision proved perfect for Tyrese’s basketball career, as he still managed to land at a high-end D1 university despite his three-star status. He attended Iowa State, where he made the All-Big 12 second team and was a finalist for the Bob Cousy award.
Tyrese’s siblings
Besides Tyrese, John and Brenda have another son together, Marcel. Tyrese also has two older brothers through his mother’s previous marriage. None of Tyrese’s immediate family, besides his father (who recently garnered notoriety), has been in the media spotlight. However, the Pacers’ playmaker does have family ties in the NBA.
Hali is a cousin of both former Lakers wing Eddie Jones and current Magic guard Jalen Suggs. So, Tyrese had plenty of supporters, including in the game, to help pave his path to becoming a professional.
Brenda’s support for Tyrese
Brenda attended nearly every single one of Tyrese’s basketball games until he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2020. Her unwavering support was particularly evident during his final season (2019-20) at Iowa State University.
She made it a priority to attend every game, even driving six hours from Oshkosh to Ames for the home games.
“My mom never missed a game of mine growing up, like ever. Every AAU tournament, every everything, she was always there. My parents both worked to make sure me and my brothers could do whatever we wanted,” the All-Star playmaker once told NBA.com
“We were a middle-class family, not any more money than people around. But if I wanted this game, these shoes, that shirt, [or] whatever, I got it. That just tells you how much they cared about us getting where we wanted,” he added.
While not as vocal as her husband, Brenda has done everything she can to nurture Tyrese in sports and in life.
Personal life and influence
Brenda’s influence is evident in Tyrese’s special moments, such as during the announcement of his $260 million contract extension with the Pacers. Overcome with emotion, Tyrese expressed deep gratitude toward his mother, acknowledging her pivotal role in his journey to the NBA.
Beyond her role as a supportive mother, Brenda is also recognized for her role in keeping the family united. Tyrese’s girlfriend, Jade Jones, has praised Brenda as “the glue to this family.”
Brenda may not appreciate all the attention she’s been getting due to her longtime husband, but it’s clear she’s been nothing but a supportive wife and mother.
