Tyrese Haliburton's Game 5 shoe was inspired by The Undertaker

Tyrese Haliburton’s shoes for Game 5 were inspired by an unlikely source—The Undertaker. 

No seriously, The Undertaker is the inspiration for the Puma All-Pro Nitro PEs the athlete sported for the game, and now we can’t see anything other than, well, The Undertaker when we look at them. Per the brand, the shoes are engineered mesh upper with a material mix of textile and synthetic suedes. There’s also a lace closure, and the brand’s Full NITROFOAM midsole, which is made specifically for basketball. Also present is a soft inner compound infused into the midsole to enhance performance and visual tech appeal, and a TPU wielded formstrip for extra traction.

Haliburton’s pair featured a distinct purple and green design that channeled the WWE legend, appropriate since the Indiana Pacers sent the Milwaukee Bucks home on Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.  

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Mark William Calaway, aka “The Undertaker,” is regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and one of the most well-known and recognizable WWE players in history. His signature colors are blue/purple (hence the tribute), and his signature move is the Tombstone Piledriver, which he used as a finisher throughout his career.

As for the Pacers, they will next face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semis, which is set to begin on May 1 at a TBD time.

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