Hans Perez attacked by Knicks fans
Hans Perez, a self-proclaimed lifetime Indiana Pacers fan, was attacked by Knicks fans outside Madison Square Garden. The attack occurred after the Knicks defeated the Celtics in game six of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Hans Perez, a firefighter, walked past Madison Square Garden after dropping his kids off at their grandparents’ house. He was wearing his Indiana Pacers jersey and felt a bit cautious about walking by the crowd of Knicks fans. After some thought, Perez decided it would be fun to stroll past them, showing off his jersey. As soon as the Knicks fans spotted him, they taunted him. Perez thought everything was fine until one of the fans tried to snatch the jersey off him. As he continued walking, the crowd followed him, carrying trash bags. They threw the garbage at Perez while he continued his work down the street. Fortunately, Perez spotted some police cars ahead and calmly walked toward them for safety.
In response to the incident, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton publicly supported Perez by inviting him and a guest to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Indianapolis. Haliburton emphasized that the entire Pacers organization wanted to ensure Perez was well taken care of, and the invitation was meant as a gesture of appreciation and solidarity.
The episode sparked wider commentary on sportsmanship among fans, with notable figures like actor and Knicks superfan Ben Stiller praising Haliburton’s response and reinforcing that no fan should be subjected to such treatment, regardless of team allegiance.
This isn’t the only instance of a fan facing aggression from Knicks supporters. There is video footage showing a man in a Boston Celtics jersey being attacked, during which his jersey was ripped off his body. The New York City Police Department needs to increase its presence at these games.
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