Tyrese Haliburton's father John apologizes to Giannis Antetokounmpo following on-court exchange

John Haliburton, the father of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, apologized for actions following the series clinching win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The elder got in the face of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the two had a heated exchange on the floor, following the game.

Antetokounmpo and Haliburton’s father exchanged words as the Bucks star headed to the locker room. They eventually got in each other’s faces before they were separated, and Tyrese Haliburton said after the game his father was not “in the right.”

Antetokounmpo made it clear he was only going to address the situation once, and gave a passionate answer about his approach to the game in both victory and defeat. He said he tries to be humble even in victory and noted his parents don’t sit courtside or near the game. Antetokounmpo added Haliburton’s father came up to him and talked trash after his son hit the game-winning shot, and he didn’t realize who it was at first.

With that, Haliburton’s father John eventually apologized. He took to social media late Tuesday night to address the situation.

“I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game,” John Haliburton wrote on Twitter. “This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.”

Haliburton said he wanted to talk to Antetokounmpo and apologize after the game. Antetokounmpo confirmed they spoke and it ended well. But the situation as a whole, he said, was “unacceptable” and he didn’t want to say much more from there.

“When I see other dads – which, no disrespect,” Antetokounmpo said regarding the Haliburton situation. “Maybe if my son plays basketball, I might be in the court, I might be the one on the court and like 20 years later, you can play this interview and say, ‘Giannis, you’re contradicting yourself.’ But we’ll see in 20 years. But I’m telling you right now how I feel. Having somebody’s dad – and I’m happy for him and I’m happy for his son and I’m happy that he’s happy for his son, that’s how he’s supposed to feel.

“But coming to me and disrespecting me and cursing at me is totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. I’m not a guy that points fingers because in my neighborhood, snitches get stitches. So I don’t want to say something for him to get fined or anything, but it’s not respectful. I talked with him at the end, and I think we’re in a good place.”