Giannis altercation brings consequences for father of Pacers’ Haliburton
After the Indiana Pacers’ series-winning victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, Tyrese Haliburton’s father was involved in a post-game spat with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This midweek’s heated on-court altercation between Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the father of Indiana Pacers hero Tyrese Haliburton has had significant consequences.
Haliburton Sr. told to stay away
According to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, the Pacers have asked John Haliburton not to attend the team’s home and road games for the foreseeable future.
Haliburton Sr. “was understanding and accepted the choice” in discussions with the franchise’s front office, Charania says.
This was a decision made by the Pacers front office and John Haliburton was understanding and accepted the choice after confronting Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court postgame Tuesday night. https://t.co/8FnFQSOIAZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 1, 2025
What happened between John Haliburton and Giannis?
The spat with Antetokounmpo occurred at the end of the Pacers’ Game 5 triumph over the Bucks on Tuesday - a win that sealed a 4-1 series victory for Indiana in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs.
Having watched his son score the basket that clinched the Pacers’ 119-118 overtime win in Indianapolis, John Haliburton could be seen confronting Antetokounmpo on court as the hosts celebrated reaching the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
“I believe in being humble in victory”
As the situation escalated, several players and staff members from both teams could be seen intervening as the altercation threatened to turn physical.
In a post-game news conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Antetokounmpo branded Haliburton Sr.’s actions “very, very disrespectful” and “totally unacceptable”, claiming the latter had taunted him by shouting: “This is what we F-ing do!”
“I believe in being humble in victory, that’s who I am,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “There can be a lot of people out there are like, ‘No, when you win the game, you’ve got to talk shit and it’s a green light for you to be disrespectful towards somebody else.’ I disagree.”
“I never swore at him”
John Haliburton later took to social media to say sorry for the confrontation, writing: “I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.”
I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight's game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.
— John Haliburton (@PapaHaliburton) April 30, 2025
However, in an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Haliburton Sr. denied cursing at Antetokounmpo.
“I never swore at him,” he insisted. “Absolutely never. I don’t swear. Everybody who knows me knows that I don’t swear. I can’t stand it.
“It’s on record that I say things to my son when he swears on the basketball court because kids are watching him. I don’t do that. I don’t believe in it.”
Cavs clash up next for Pacers
Following their series win over the Bucks, the No. 4-seeded Pacers will now face the Cleveland Cavaliers, the East’s No. 1 seed, in the Conference Semi-Finals. Game 1 is scheduled to take place in Ohio on Sunday, May 4.
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