Tyrese Haliburton dad moment came after a night meant for celebration for the Indiana Pacers. Instead, their thrilling 119-118 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks was overshadowed by a surprising courtside controversy involving Tyrese Haliburton’s dad and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Haliburton Heroics Overshadowed by Postgame Fracas
Tyrese Haliburton capped off Indiana’s improbable rally with a game-winning layup with 1.3 seconds left. The victory clinched a 4-1 series win and sent the Bucks to their third straight first-round exit. But Haliburton’s joy turned to concern when he saw video footage of his father, John Haliburton, confronting Giannis on the court.
“We had a little talk about it,” Haliburton said. “I don’t agree with what transpired there. Basketball is basketball—let’s keep it on the court.”
Giannis Reacts: “Very Disrespectful”
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who posted 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists, expressed disappointment after the heated exchange. He didn’t recognize Haliburton’s dad at the time and thought he was a fan.
“He had a towel with Tyrese’s face and was yelling, ‘This is what we [expletive] do,’” said Giannis. “That’s very disrespectful.”
Tension Between Teams Reaches Boiling Point
The Pacers and Bucks have built an intense rivalry, meeting 20 times over the past two seasons. The Pacers have now won 8 of 11 playoff games, eliminating Milwaukee in back-to-back postseasons.
Bennedict Mathurin and other Pacers players joined the postgame dust-up, but Tyrese emphasized the importance of keeping family out of professional competition.
“I don’t think my pops was in the right at all. It’s unfortunate,” Haliburton added.
Giannis Reflects on Family Boundaries
Giannis shared a personal anecdote about the 2021 NBA Finals, noting how even his mother was hesitant to come onto the court after the championship win.
“She didn’t even know if she could hug me,” he said. “We don’t do courtside chaos.”
Looking Ahead: Rivalry Renewed
As the Pacers advance and Milwaukee regroups, all eyes will be on future matchups—especially with unresolved tension between Haliburton’s dad and the Bucks star.
Tyrese pledged to reach out to Giannis personally:
“I’ll talk to him. I respect him. I’m sorry it happened.”
Source: AP News
