John Haliburton Apologizes for Post-Game Incident
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, has apologized after a heated verbal confrontation with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo following the Pacers’ series-clinching win on Tuesday night.
After Tyrese hit a game-winning layup in overtime, propelling the Pacers to a 103-96 victory and a 4-1 series win, John Haliburton joined several enthusiastic Pacers fans on the court to celebrate. However, things took a tense turn when a verbal altercation broke out between him and Antetokounmpo. The exchange quickly escalated, with both sides needing to be separated.
In response, John Haliburton posted an apology on his Twitter account (@PapaHaliburton), which had been inactive for the past three years. The message read: “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.”
Giannis Reflects on the Incident
Antetokounmpo shared his thoughts on the altercation during his postgame press conference. At first, he mistook John Haliburton for a fan, but quickly realized he was Tyrese’s father. Giannis explained how he felt disrespected by the situation, particularly by the words exchanged between him and John.
He shared a personal story about his own upbringing and how his father instilled in him the value of humility and respect for others. “I remember asking my dad why he was always so humble. Why did he sit in the back during family events and never speak up? He taught me to avoid drawing attention, to remain humble, and to never disrespect anyone,” Giannis said.
While acknowledging that he understood Tyrese’s excitement, Giannis expressed his discomfort with John’s behavior, especially the use of curse words during the confrontation. Despite this, Antetokounmpo added that he spoke with John afterward and felt the situation was resolved.
Tyrese Haliburton Addresses His Father’s Actions
Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 29 points, nine assists, and five rebounds in the crucial win, also addressed the incident after the game. He expressed disappointment in his father’s actions and stated that he didn’t agree with how things unfolded.
“We talked about it. I don’t think what happened was right, but my pops got caught up in the excitement of the moment. He saw me hit a game-winner and came on the court to celebrate. We had a conversation, and I think he should just let me play and stay on the sidelines. I’ll come to him after the game to celebrate,” Tyrese explained.
The young star also expressed plans to speak with Giannis to clear the air, acknowledging the unfortunate nature of the situation. “I’ll talk to Giannis about it eventually,” Haliburton said. “It’s something I’ll address.”
Pacers Head to Conference Semifinals
With the victory, the fourth-seeded Pacers have advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs, who had the best record in the East during the regular season, swept the Miami Heat in their first-round series.
Tyrese and the Pacers now look to build on their momentum as they prepare for a tough matchup against the Cavaliers.
