Following the Indiana Pacers’ dramatic 119–118 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs, tensions escalated both on and off the court. The win, secured by Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning layup, clinched the series for the Pacers and eliminated the Bucks from the postseason.News.com.au+6talkSPORT+6Reuters+6News.com.au+2talkSPORT+2New York Post+2
In the immediate aftermath, an incident occurred involving Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton. John entered the court, waved a towel bearing his son’s image, and reportedly directed profanities at Giannis. This confrontation led to a heated exchange between the two, which was quickly diffused by players and team officials. Giannis later described the behavior as “very, very disrespectful” and emphasized the importance of humility in victory. SI+5talkSPORT+5Reuters+5Reuters+3talkSPORT+3New York Post+3New York Post+3The Express Tribune+3talkSPORT+3
The altercation sparked a spirited debate on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” between analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. Barkley criticized John Haliburton’s actions, stating that fans or family members should not confront players on the court and labeled the behavior as inappropriate. Conversely, Shaq suggested that Giannis may have provoked the incident by engaging with John, implying that the Bucks star bore some responsibility for the escalation. talkSPORTThe Express Tribune
Tyrese Haliburton addressed the situation by acknowledging his father’s actions were inappropriate and expressed his intent to discuss the matter with him. John Haliburton later issued a public apology for his conduct. SI+5talkSPORT+5News.com.au+5
For a detailed discussion of the incident and the ensuing debate between Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, you can watch the segment from “Inside the NBA” below:
