John Haliburton, the father of Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton, will not attend Pacers home and away games for the foreseeable future as the team gets ready to start a second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
That follows an incident in which John Haliburton confronted and exchanged words with Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court after a game.
The decision was made by the Pacers’ front office, according to Pacers vice president of basketball communications and media relations Michael Preston.
John Haliburton had a courtside floor seat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and after Tyrese made the game-winning shot in the final seconds in the Game 5 series clincher, he ran onto the court and had a verbal altercation with Antetokounmpo.
Tyrese Haliburton admonished his dad’s actions, and John Haliburton apologized.
‘I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game,’ John Haliburton posted on social media. ‘This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.’
Said Tyrese Haliburton: ‘I don’t agree with what transpired there from him. Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make a game winner and came on the court, but we had a conversation.’
Game 1 of the Cavaliers-Pacers series is Sunday in Cleveland.
Tyrese Haliburton’s father confronts Giannis
After Haliburton’s layup with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime gave Indiana a 119-118 victory and eliminated the Bucks, John Haliburton and other Pacers fans stormed onto the court.
Moments later, TV cameras captured an animated discussion between the two before Antetokounmpo was ushered away.
Antetokounmpo’s response to confrontation
Antetokounmpo was still a little upset when asked about the exchange in a postgame interview.
“(A)t the moment I thought he was a fan,” he said. “But then I realize it was Tyrese’s [father]. I love Tyrese. I think he’s a great competitor. [But] it was his dad … Coming in the floor and showing me his son, a towel with his face, [and saying], ‘This is what we do. This is what we effing do. This what the eff we do.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.
‘I’m happy for him, I’m happy for his son, and I’m happy that he’s happy for his son,’ Antetokounmpo later added. ‘That’s how you’re supposed to feel. But coming to me and disrespecting me and cursing at me I think is totally unacceptable, totally unacceptable.’
Antetokounmpo said their discussion on the floor ended amicably, as evidenced by a thumbs-up gesture he gave as they parted.
‘I talked with him at the end,” Antetokounmpo said, “and I think we’re in a good place.”
