This is not Patrick Ewing’s Knicks against Reggie Millers’ Pacers anymore.

It’s Jalen Brunson versus Tyrese Haliburton, who are rivals on the court but friends off it.

“[He’s a] great player,” Brunson said of Haliburton following the Knicks’ Saturday practice. “We became friends last summer. Great guy, [has a] great family.

“I have all the respect in the world for him and the way he plays the game. He just goes out there, plays the right way and does what he has to do.”

Brunson and Haliburton are forever linked by their Team USA bond in last year’s FIBA World Cup.

Friendly Rivalry Between Brunson & Haliburton

Despite last summer’s debate on who should have started between them for Team USA (Brunson ended up starting while Haliburton led the team in assists off the bench), they did not pay attention to it.

But whether they like it or not, the rivalry is a hit to NBA fans and their respective team’s fan bases. It is a testament to their rising popularity as two of the league’s young stars.

They became again a hot topic for debate on who is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference, which fans settled by voting Haliburton as an NBA All-Star starter while Brunson settled with a spot in the reserves voted by the coaches.

And when Haliburton was named to Team USA who will play in the Paris Olympics this summer, Brunson’s and Knicks’ fans felt he should have been also selected.

Brunson has no qualms and looks forward to his friendly rivalry with Haliburton in this year’s playoffs.