A tense confrontation between Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and John Haliburton, father of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, unfolded immediately after the Pacers’ series-clinching 119-118 victory in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on April 29, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The incident, reported by The Athletic in an article titled “Giannis, Tyrese Haliburton’s dad in spotlight after epic Bucks collapse,” followed the Pacers’ 4-1 series win, which eliminated the Bucks and propelled Indiana into the next round against the winner of the Knicks-Cavaliers series.
The game was a dramatic conclusion to the series, with Tyrese Haliburton securing the win with a steal from Antetokounmpo and a game-winning layup with 1.3 seconds left, giving the Pacers a one-point lead. Haliburton finished with 34 points, 12 assists, and 4 steals, while Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 38 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists, per NBA.com. The Pacers’ 4-1 series victory came after dropping Game 1, 109-94, and then winning four straight, including a 129-103 blowout in Game 4, as noted by NBA.com. Haliburton averaged 28.2 points and 9.8 assists across the series, while Antetokounmpo averaged 33.6 points and 12.4 rebounds, per ESPN stats.
As the final buzzer sounded, John Haliburton rushed onto the court, waving a towel featuring his son’s face and directing heated words at Antetokounmpo, who was visibly emotional after the loss. Video footage captured by a local news outlet and published by IndyStar showed John approaching Antetokounmpo and waving the towel close to his face, prompting the Bucks star to step toward him. The two were separated by Bucks players Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis, along with Pacers security, before the situation escalated further. Antetokounmpo later told The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, “I thought it was a fan at first, but then I realized it was Tyrese’s dad. It was a shock—emotions were high, and I reacted. My father taught me to stay humble in wins and losses, but in that moment, it was tough.”
John Haliburton issued a statement through the Pacers’ PR team on April 30, saying, “I apologize to Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Pacers organization for my actions following the game. My behavior was not reflective of the values of our sport or my son’s character, and I regret my actions,” as reported by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. The incident appeared to be fueled by a series already rife with tension—Game 3 had seen Antetokounmpo and Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin nearly come to blows after a hard foul, and Haliburton’s steal and game-winner in Game 5, coupled with animated celebrations from the Pacers’ bench, had frustrated Antetokounmpo, who called the steal “disrespectful,” per IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed the incident, telling The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski, “Family members on the court after a game like that—it’s a safety issue, and it creates unnecessary drama. The league needs to address this.” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle focused on his team’s performance, saying, “Tyrese was phenomenal, and we’re moving on to the next round,” per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. The NBA announced on April 30 that it would investigate the altercation, with a league spokesperson telling ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, “We are reviewing the post-game incident involving a spectator and players. Appropriate measures will be taken following the review.” Potential penalties for John Haliburton could include a fine or a ban from attending games, similar to past league responses to fan-player interactions.
The Pacers’ series win highlighted their depth and resilience, with Pascal Siakam averaging 22.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, and Myles Turner anchoring the defense with 3.2 blocks per game, per NBA.com. The Bucks, despite Antetokounmpo’s brilliance, struggled after Damian Lillard exited Game 3 with a leg injury, missing the final two games. Brook Lopez shot just 39% from the field, and Khris Middleton’s 16.8 points per game came on 42% shooting, per ESPN stats. As the Pacers advance, the incident with John Haliburton and Antetokounmpo adds a contentious footnote to a series defined by competitive fire, ensuring that the focus will partially remain on this off-court drama as Indiana prepares for the next round.
