4 days ago
"I ain't like that, that sh– is lame" - Jeff Teague criticizes ESPN's Game 7 coverage for repeatedly replaying the play where Haliburton got injured
"I ain't like that, that sh– is lame" - Jeff Teague criticizes ESPN's Game 7 coverage for repeatedly replaying the play where Haliburton got injured originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The game was heavily anticipated by hoops fans as it was the first championship series to go the full route since 2016 when LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers faced Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors. However, seven minutes into the game, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a lower leg injury, which many fear is an Achilles Tear.
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Instead of respecting the affected team and player, ESPN repeatedly showed the footage where Hali got hurt throughout the first half of the game, to the point that online fans, including Teague, started chirping at the Network.
"We don't need to see that man get hurt a thousand times. I trolled the Pacers all year, but I ain't like that, that sh– is lame," added Teague.
They replayed Hali's injury maybe 9 times
Many lauded Haliburton for putting his body at risk by playing through a calf injury since Game 5. He had a solid Game Six and was off to a red-hot start in Game 7, hitting three out of four three-pointers to keep the game close. However, seven minutes into the game, he suffered a lower leg injury, which is believed to be an Achilles injury.
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Now, there's nothing wrong with replaying a crucial play like that one, to see what really happened. But for ESPN to show it like 10 times during the first half of Game 7, it became too much. But that's not it. Teague also lashed out at courtside reporter Lisa Salters for asking Myles Turner about Hali's injury during the game.
"Why the hell that lady ask Myles Turner 'How do you feel about Tyrese getting hurt?' in the middle of the game?" asked Teague. "Damn, I would've been like 'What you think?' Like that was a dumb a– question. He is in the middle of the NBA Finals, Game 7. Bro, you ask him about his man who just probably tore his Achilles and you ask him 'What do you think of his injury?' like it was the end of the game. Like mother fu—er, I can't worry about that. We sad. But why the fu– do you ask me that?"
ESPN's people ruined the NBA Finals coverage
But ESPN's coverage of Game 7 wasn't the only thing that was heavily criticized; fans said the whole series was unwatchable because ESPN's hosts are big-ego talking heads who make their commentary more about themselves rather than about the game.
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Like Stephen A. Smith became critical of Tyrese Haliburton when Hali talked about people in NBA media who know nothing about basketball. Smith presumed that Tyrese was talking about him and ranted on the Pacers star at every show he was at. Then Stephen A. was filmed playing solitaire while watching the Finals, somewhat validating Haliburton's claim.
Meanwhile, fans also complained about ESPN's commentating team. Specifically Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson, forbad takes, and terrible game analysis. Some went as far as calling Burke the worst announcer.
Related: "The team that I'm going to remember isn't the team that won the title" - Bill Simmons says Haliburton's injury will be the lasting legacy of the 2025 NBA Finals
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
