Remember how just a few weeks back, the Andy Byron scandal during the Coldplay concert was trending everywhere? From viral memes to heated opinions, social media couldn’t get enough.
Well, history is repeating itself in the NBA world. Ever since the Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers’ alleged financial scandal surfaced, the basketball community has been buzzing with memes, social media posts, and hot takes.
Now, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has thrown his hat into the ring with a sarcastic comment that’s already making waves across the internet.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Sarcastic Comment Regarding the Kawhi Leonard Case
Recently Haliburton was spotted rocking Iowa State Cyclones gear, which included a bright red sweatshirt, a matching hat, and white-and-red shoes before the iconic CyHawk rivalry game against Iowa on September 6.
During an interview on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff,” the Pacers star mostly reminisced about his days at Iowa State and the passion surrounding the rivalry. But then came an unexpected twist.
Former NFL running back Mark Ingram II slyly asked Haliburton if there were any “no-show jobs” available, jokingly referencing the allegations surrounding Leonard. Haliburton couldn’t help but burst into laughter before delivering a six-word response that had everyone cracking up: “Tell them to find me too!”
“Do you know where I can apply for one of those no show jobs like Kawhi got?”
Tyrese Haliburton: “Tell them to find me too!”
(h/t @42tndidehonho)pic.twitter.com/Y9KuDKgLWr
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 6, 2025
For those unfamiliar with the explosive allegations rocking the NBA, here’s the backstory that has everyone talking.
What Is the Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers Alleged Scandal?
The controversy began when journalist Pablo Torre revealed eyebrow-raising details on his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast. Torre explained that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer may have used one of his companies as a loophole to funnel extra money to Leonard outside of his NBA salary.
According to the report, the now-defunct company, Aspiration, entered into a $28 million contract with Leonard’s business, KL2 Aspire, LLC. On paper, Leonard was supposedly tied to the company, but former employees claimed he never actually performed any work there.
The financial web became even more tangled when John Karalis of the “Boston Sports Journal” uncovered additional details.
His reporting revealed that Leonard’s business entity didn’t just receive the initial $28 million through quarterly installments over four years, but the payments continued flowing. Leonard allegedly pocketed an additional $20 million, pushing the total compensation to a staggering $48 million.
The NBA has since launched a formal investigation into these allegations, and if concrete evidence emerges proving salary cap violations, both Ballmer and Leonard could face severe consequences.
“At this point, the $48 million commitment by Aspiration to Leonard and Ballmer’s $50 million investment stands as two separate transactions. The league is currently investigating whether there is a connection that circumvented salary cap rules,” wrote Karalis in his report.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Performance Last Season
Meanwhile, Haliburton has had his own dramatic year on the court. The Indiana star averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game and led the Pacers to a 50–32 record.
His playmaking even helped carry Indiana all the way to the NBA Finals, where they fell heartbreakingly short in a seven-game battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
THE EMOTIONS POUR OUT AS THE STARTERS CHECK OUT.
OKC THUNDER: 2025 NBA CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/M2DzqMM03F
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
The loss was devastating enough, but Game 7 brought even worse news as Haliburton suffered a torn right Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on June 23 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and the Pacers later announced that he will miss the entire 2025–26 season.
“I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever. The surgery went well. It was a little higher and he gets more blood to that [as he recovers]. He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now. So don’t get any hopes up that he will play,” said Pacers president Kevin Pritchard.
#Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed Tyrese Haliburton is out for the 2025-26 season.
“I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever… He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now.” pic.twitter.com/OiSy327pgw
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) July 7, 2025
Still, Haliburton hasn’t lost his humor or his optimism. During his FOX appearance, he noted that his recovery is “coming off well” (as per IndyStar), giving Pacers fans a sliver of hope for the future. But for now, his witty six-word jab shows he hasn’t lost his personality either.
