Tyrese Haliburton’s dad, John, has been banned from attending Pacers games ‘for the foreseeable future’ following his clash with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Tuesday night.
John went onto the court after the Pacers’ series-clinching Game 5 win over Milwaukee and appeared to taunt Antetokounmpo, as he stood near the Greek star and held up a towel with his son’s face on it.
Antetokounmpo later got in John’s face on the other end of the court and the pair had a heated argument before they were ultimately separated.
Now, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, John will not attend the Pacers’ home and road games after a discussion with the team’s front office.
Charania added that John was ‘understanding and accepted the choice’ afterwards.
Antetokounmpo said after the game that he thought John was actually a fan before realizing it was the Pacers’ All-Star’s father.
John Haliburton appeared to taunt Giannis Antetopkpunmpo on the court after the game
Antetokounmpo then got in John’s face before the pair were ultinately separated
‘It was his dad… coming on the floor and showing me a towel with his [son’s] face,’ Antetokounmpo continued before paraphrasing John. ‘This is what we do. This is what we effing do.”
‘I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful,’ Antetokounmpo added.
Even Tyrese Haliburton agreed.
‘I don’t think my pops was in the right,’ Tyrese said after the game.
For his part, John has apologized for going onto the court but claimed the initial moment with the towel was misinterpreted.
In an interview with TMJ4, he said he was not intentionally staring down the Bucks star, and that he was actually ‘looking through him.’
John added to the outlet that his now-viral confrontation with Antetokounmpo, the player told him ‘don’t you ever f***ing disrespect me again’ before the pair allegedly said ‘I love you’ to each other.
John later said on X: ‘I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game,’ John said on social media. ‘This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.’
