The father of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton revealed what he and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said to each other during their on-court confrontation.
Haliburton’s father John was criticized for going onto the court following the Pacers’ series-clinching 119-118 win and seemingly taunting Antetokounmpo. As Haliburton explains it, however, he was simply trying to celebrate a win, and was not specifically targeting Antetokounmpo.
“When I turned, it might have seemed like I was looking at him, but I really wasn’t,” Haliburton said in an interview with TMJ4. “I was looking through him. That’s how I was in the moment. I had the banner in my hand and I was yelling. Giannis never said a thing to me. I never said a thing to Giannis. There was no back-and-forth.
“He grabbed my hand, put his forehead on my forehead, and said ‘Don’t disrespect me. Don’t f—ing disrespect me.’ And I said to him, ‘I was not trying to disrespect you. I did not do that on purpose. I really did not.’ Then I said to him, ‘I love you.’ He said back to me, ‘I love you.’ We patted chests. He gave a thumbs-up, and he walked away.”
"He said, 'Don't disrespect me. Don't f-ing disrespect me.' And I said I was not trying to disrespect you."
— Ashley Washburn (@ashleyjwashburn) April 30, 2025
In an exclusive interview with @TMJ4, Tyrese Haliburton's dad talks about last night's confrontation with Giannis after Game 5. pic.twitter.com/hcFVAwnbd9
Haliburton also explained that the two were forehead-to-forehead because Antetokounmpo did not want people on social media to be able to read his lips.
Video of the incident largely seems to back up Haliburton’s version of events, at least when it comes to their face-to-face exchange. It is true that Antetokounmpo ultimately did seemingly direct a cordial chest pat toward Haliburton as the two separated.
However, Antetokounmpo was still aggrieved over the incident after the game and suggested Haliburton had taunted and cursed at him while holding the banner. Regardless of what the two said to each other after the fact, it certainly did not look good, whether Haliburton was directing words at Antetokounmpo or not.
Haliburton has apologized for his role in the confrontation. It is unclear if the NBA will take any action in response to the incident.
