Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers got a bit chippy at the end of regulation. In addition to scrapping with players, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was also confronted by Tyrese Haliburton’s father on-the-court.
After the final buzzer, Giannis Antetokounmpo was seemingly confronted by a celebratory John Haliburton, the father of Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Giannis didn’t shy away from the elder Haliburton, putting his forehead into his.
Following the altercation, John Haliburton took to social media to take responsibility and apologize (always a brutal look when you embarrass your own kin).
“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,” Haliburton tweeted.
Tyrese Haliburton’s dad was trolling 😭
pic.twitter.com/nDMnMNR2K8— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 30, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburtons father 👀 👀 pic.twitter.com/9Xq4WRb9ip
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 30, 2025
Speaking to the media after the game — in which Giannis put up a heroic 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists — the 30-year-old NBA champion, defensive player of the year, and two-time MVP eloquently detailed why he took such issue with Haliburton’s behavior.
“Losing a game, emotions run high. Having a fan – which, at the moment, I thought he was a fan and then I realized it was Tyrese’s dad. I love Tyrese. He’s a great competitor. Coming in the floor and showing me his son’s towel and saying, ‘This is what we do. This is what we f’ing do. This is what the eff we do.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful,”Antetokounmpo said.
“When I see other dads – which, no disrespect,m aybe if my son plays basketball, I might be in the court, I might be the one on the court and like 20 years later, you can play this interview and say, ‘Giannis, you’re contradicting yourself.’ But we’ll see in 20 years. But I’m telling you right now how I feel. Having somebody’s dad – and I’m happy for him and I’m happy for his son and I’m happy that he’s happy for his son, that’s how he’s supposed to feel.”
“But coming to me and disrespecting me and cursing at me is totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. I’m not a guy that points fingers because in my neighborhood, snitches get stitches. So I don’t want to say something for him to get fined or anything, but it’s not respectful. I talked with him at the end, and I think we’re in a good place.”
Giannis believes in being humble in victory. pic.twitter.com/GYEXyHoXUu
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 30, 2025
Giannis certainly wasn’t alone in his assessment of the situation, as Haliburton agreed that his father was in the role.
“I’ll talk to Giannis about it eventually,” Haliburton, who had 26 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds in the series-clinching win, said. “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there. It’s unfortunate what happened at the end there. It’s unfortunate what happened there, but I think it’s just competition. As far as my pops, I don’t agree with what happened there. We’ll have a conversation.”
With their 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers have advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they’ll take on the #1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept the Miami Heat in the first round.