Giannis confronted by Pacers player’s father following Bucks’ playoff exit
Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton’s father approached Giannis Antetokounmpo on court after Milwaukee’s overtime defeat, prompting a postgame apology.
Following the Indiana Pacers’ overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, tensions escalated when John Haliburton, father of Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, confronted Giannis Antetokounmpo. The game, which ended 119-118 in overtime, secured Indiana’s advancement in the playoffs and marked the second consecutive year Milwaukee was eliminated in the first round by the Pacers.The postgame exchange began when John Haliburton, holding a towel featuring his son’s image, approached Antetokounmpo on the court, yelling, “This is what we (expletive) do.”Initially, Antetokounmpo mistook John Haliburton for a fan before realizing his identity. “I’m happy for him, his son, I’m happy that he’s happy for his son, that’s how you’re supposed to feel, but coming to me, disrespecting me and cursing at me, I think is totally unacceptable,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. Tyrese Haliburton, unaware of the confrontation until he returned to the locker room, expressed disappointment in his father’s actions. “The emotions of the game got excited there. I talked with him. I’ll talk with Giannis. I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there,” he said. John Haliburton later issued an apology on social media, writing, “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.”[/twitter]Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle addressed the situation Wednesday morning during an interview on 107.5 The Fan. Carlisle shared that John Haliburton had been “very contrite” about the events and had assured the team that it would not happen again. “We all love our children, we all embrace their great moments. He clearly was carried away by this moment,” Carlisle said. “I want everyone to know that this is a guy with a heart of gold, and the one thing he loves close to his son, is the Pacers. But it can’t manifest the way that it did, and he knows that.” In another heated exchange, Antetokounmpo put his hand around Bennedict Mathurin ‘s neck. The Pacers guard pushed him away, and they also had to be separated by their teammates.Top HeadlinesSchool bus nearly hits building after crash in MilwaukeeNational Weather Service confirms 6 tornadoes touched down in WisconsinWisconsin Supreme Court suspends Milwaukee judge amid federal chargesHigh-tech car theft on the rise, these are the most vulnerable modelsWATCH Georgia man fights off rabid bobcat with bare hands, lives to tell the tale
MILWAUKEE —Following the Indiana Pacers’ overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, tensions escalated when John Haliburton, father of Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, confronted Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The game, which ended 119-118 in overtime, secured Indiana’s advancement in the playoffs and marked the second consecutive year Milwaukee was eliminated in the first round by the Pacers.
The postgame exchange began when John Haliburton, holding a towel featuring his son’s image, approached Antetokounmpo on the court, yelling, “This is what we (expletive) do.”
Initially, Antetokounmpo mistook John Haliburton for a fan before realizing his identity. “I’m happy for him, his son, I’m happy that he’s happy for his son, that’s how you’re supposed to feel, but coming to me, disrespecting me and cursing at me, I think is totally unacceptable,” Antetokounmpo said after the game.
Tyrese Haliburton, unaware of the confrontation until he returned to the locker room, expressed disappointment in his father’s actions. “The emotions of the game got excited there. I talked with him. I’ll talk with Giannis. I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there,” he said.
John Haliburton later issued an apology on social media, writing, “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.”
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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 Haliburton (@PapaHaliburton) April 30, 2025
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle addressed the situation Wednesday morning during an interview on 107.5 The Fan. Carlisle shared that John Haliburton had been “very contrite” about the events and had assured the team that it would not happen again.
“We all love our children, we all embrace their great moments. He clearly was carried away by this moment,” Carlisle said. “I want everyone to know that this is a guy with a heart of gold, and the one thing he loves close to his son, is the Pacers. But it can’t manifest the way that it did, and he knows that.”
In another heated exchange, Antetokounmpo put his hand around Bennedict Mathurin ‘s neck. The Pacers guard pushed him away, and they also had to be separated by their teammates.
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