Tempers flared Tuesday night following Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Moments after the Pacers’ 119-118 win in overtime, Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, exchanged words with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the 68-year-old has now taken to X to apologize for his actions.
“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.”
John was certainly in the wrong there. It was a bit puzzling at first as to why Antetokounmpo seemed so heated, but it soon became clear why. A video went viral on social media that showed John waving a towel with Tyrese’s face on it at Antetokounmpo and saying something to him.
Another angle of Tyrese Haliburton’s father and Giannis. 😬
(via @squaresense)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 30, 2025
Antetokounmpo, who had 30 points (9-17 FG), 20 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks in Game 5, just stared in response, and before he could act, Bucks guard Pat Connaughton rushed over to get in between them. This was just unacceptable behavior on John’s part, and Antetokounmpo criticized his actions after the game.
“Losing the game, emotions ran high,” Antetokounmpo said. “Having a fan, who, at the moment, I thought was a fan, but then realized he’s Tyrese’s father. Coming onto the floor and showing me his son’s face on a towel like, ‘This is what we effing do.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.”
Someone else who also felt that John was in the wrong was his son. Tyrese made it clear postgame that his father was in the wrong.
“As far as the incident between Giannis and my pops, I had no idea until I got to the back and was shown the video,” Tyrese stated. “I don’t agree with what transpired… He got excited that his son hit the game-winner on the court. The emotions of the game got excited, I spoke to Giannis about it, and I don’t think that my pops was in the right at all there.”
While you understand a father being excited after his son hit a game-winner in overtime, you’d expect some restraint. John used to be a women’s basketball coach and a referee and should have known better than to react in that manner. If a parent of a player on an opposing team had taunted one of his players or Tyrese, you better believe he would have been fuming.
Antetokounmpo also got into it with Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin after the game. The two were seemingly hugging each other in a friendly manner at first, but it appears something might have been said that angered Mathurin. He pushed Antetokounmpo away while holding on to his jersey, and the two had to be separated.
There was a lot of chirping going on in this series, and it isn’t too surprising that it ended in this manner. The Pacers are the ones who got the last laugh, and they have now eliminated the Bucks in back-to-back seasons. They won in six games in 2024 and in five now. The Pacers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers next in the Conference Semifinals.
For the Bucks, meanwhile, this was their third straight first-round exit. This Game 5 against the Pacers could also turn out to be the last time that Antetokounmpo plays for them. There has been plenty of speculation about the nine-time All-Star’s future, and it will be interesting to see what happens this offseason.
