Tyrese Haliburton’s dad explains spat with Giannis Antetokounmpo
The father of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has discussed his post-Game 5 confrontation with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After a post-game altercation with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Tuesday, the father of Indiana Pacers hero Tyrese Haliburton has apologized for coming onto the court - but says he did not swear at the Milwaukee Bucks star.
Having watched his son score the basket that clinched Playoff series victory over the Bucks, John Haliburton could be seen confronting Antetokounmpo on court as the Pacers celebrated reaching the Conference Semi-Finals.
Giannis hits out at “disrespectful” actions
Speaking to reporters after the Bucks’ 119-118 overtime defeat in Game 5 in Indianapolis, Antetokounmpo described Haliburton Sr.’s actions as “very, very disrespectful” and “totally unacceptable”.
The two-time NBA MVP claimed John Haliburton had “cursed” at him by yelling: “This is what we F-ing do!”
However, John Haliburton vehemently disputes this allegation, insisting in an interview with the Indianapolis Star that he “never swore”.
“I don’t swear”
“It was in the moment,” he said of his exuberant on-court celebrations. “It was in that dad proud moment. You know what I mean? And I just reacted because my son, he just did something very incredible, and I just jumped...
“Am I sorry for being proud of my son? No. No. I’m not going to tell you that because I’d be lying.
“But I was wrong for going on the basketball court, because I shouldn’t have ever done that. Do I apologize for going on the court? Yes I do.”
He continued: “I never swore at him. 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.”
“We gave the thumbs up and walked away”
John Haliburton also told the Indy Star that his coming-together with Antetokounmpo ended peacefully: “He came and he put his head on my head and we held hands and he said to me, ‘Don’t you ever disrespect me like that again.’”
“I said, ‘It was not my intention to disrespect you. I love you.’ And if you watch the video, he said the same thing, ‘I love you.’ We gave the thumbs up and he walked away. That was it.”
Who do the Pacers play next in the NBA Playoffs?
After securing a 4-1 First-Round series win over the Bucks, the No. 4-seeded Pacers will now take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, with Game 1 in Ohio scheduled for Sunday, May 4.
Indiana is chasing its first championship since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976.
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