Ryan Clark didn’t hold back on ESPN’s “Get Up” when reacting to the viral postgame confrontation between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton. The NFL veteran and current analyst issued a scathing take, calling for an immediate and permanent ban of John Haliburton from NBA arenas.
“You want to talk about the basketball? But to me, the basketball is secondary because you’re supposed to protect your players. Everything is about the shield in the NFL, and part of that shield is the people that are on the field.”
“This is Giannis Antetokounmpo. This is a Finals MVP. This is an MVP of the league. This is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and you got John Halliburton running on the court acting like Gillie Da Kid at a Philly game. That just can’t happen.”
“And kudos to Giannis Antetokounmpo for being the type of man that he is, because I know a ton of football players, and the first thing I thought when they were face-to-face was head-butting.”
“Because if you’re going to allow people on the court, if you’re going to allow fans to be face-to-face with players, then players should get to protect themselves against those fans and against those people.”
“And I believe he should never be allowed to be at another basketball game. He shouldn’t be allowed. He shouldn’t get to come to the building. Punish him.”
“If you’re going to run on the court, if you’re going to be big and bad, if you’re going to put yourself above the game, don’t come to the game ever. You have to make a stand so no one else does this.”
Ryan Clark wants Tyrese Haliburton’s father banned from NBA games
"I believe he should never be allowed to be at another basketball game."
(🎥 @GetUpESPN ) pic.twitter.com/n9xIzxWCB0
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 30, 2025
John Haliburton found himself at the center of controversy after he stormed the court postgame and taunted Giannis with a towel featuring Tyrese Haliburton’s face, shouting, “This is what we effing do!”
The Bucks had just suffered a heartbreaking 119-118 overtime loss, ending their playoff run for a third straight year in the first round.
Giannis, who averaged a jaw-dropping 33 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the series, was visibly furious.
“I believe in being humble in victory. I’ve won a championship, they haven’t. When I won, my mom didn’t even step on the court out of respect. And then I’ve got a fan or what I thought was a fan coming at me like that? That’s disrespectful.”
Stephen A. Smith added more context on “First Take,” acknowledging that John Haliburton has a reputation around the league for overly aggressive support of his son.
"Agents have complained about him, other players have complained to the league about him. Call the league office. They have complained about him."
Stephen A. Smith on Tyrese Haliburton's dad John 🗣️
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/dZzMXsAxVa
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 30, 2025
John Haliburton has since apologized publicly to Giannis, the Bucks, and the Pacers, calling his behavior a mistake he won’t repeat.
Still, the fallout continues. Many fans and analysts are debating whether the league should enact disciplinary action. Clark’s proposal for a lifetime ban may seem harsh, but he argued it’s about precedent.
The NBA is reportedly reviewing the incident, and if they agree with Clark, this could set a powerful new standard for fan conduct, especially for family members of players.
Do you think a lifetime ban is too harsh, or exactly what the NBA needs to protect its stars?
