The Indiana Pacers have announced that John Haliburton, father of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, will not attend the team’s home or road games for the foreseeable future.
According to a statement shared with ESPN and reported by Shams Charania, the decision was made jointly by the Pacers front office and John Haliburton following a heated on-court exchange with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The incident occurred moments after Indiana’s 119-118 overtime win on Tuesday night, which sealed their 4-1 first-round playoff series victory.
As the final buzzer sounded, Haliburton’s father ran onto the court and confronted Antetokounmpo during the Pacers’ celebration, prompting security intervention and halting the postgame proceedings.
Tyrese Haliburton, who hit the game-winning layup with 1.3 seconds remaining, distanced himself from his father’s actions during his postgame availability.
“I don’t think my pops was in the right at all,” Haliburton told reporters. “It’s unfortunate what happened in the end, but I think basketball should stay on the court.”
The 25-year-old said he only learned about the incident after watching the video in the locker room, and added that his father likely got caught up in the emotions of the moment.
“He just got excited, saw his son make a game-winner and came on the court,” Haliburton said. “But I think he just needs to allow me to play basketball and stay over there. I’ll come to him to celebrate.”
“We’ll have a conversation,” he said of his father. “Everybody’s grown men, and we’ll just go from there.”
Despite the incident, John Haliburton reportedly understood and accepted the Pacers’ decision, according to the team’s spokesperson.
