Unlike Shaq, Ex-NBA Star Backs Giannis Antetokounmpo After Viral Clash With Tyrese’s Dad Leads to Apology

Everything was going good for the Milwaukee Bucks as the team headed towards the end of the game. The Game 5 appeared to be in their hands as they led by seven points in overtime. But who could’ve predicted that it would all fall apart in just 40 seconds, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 30-point triple-double! Tyrese Haliburton’s ice-cold bucket sealed the deal for Indiana, ending Milwaukee’s 2024-25season. But it wasn’t the collapse alone that had fans buzzing. What truly lit up social media was the unexpected faceoff between Giannis and someone who wasn’t even in uniform.

Shortly after the buzzer, Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John, stepped onto the court waving a towel. At first, Giannis though it was just an overly excited fan. But was then was shocked to realize it was Tyrese’s dad. The two exchanged words, and things quickly got tense. Pat Connaughton stepped in, but not before emotions flared. Watching the footage later, Charles Barkley didn’t hold back, calling John Haliburton “an idiot” and saying anyone defending him was just as wrong. “You can’t do that,” Barkley insisted, pointing out that a parent crossing the court line was simply unacceptable.

On the Nightcap show, Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson opened up about how personal the moment felt. Shannon spoke from experience, saying, “I could just imagine how my dad would have felt.” He understood the pride a father feels, but added, “If he wants to wave a towel, he’s on the sideline, fine. So be it. But when you come on into that playing area, it’s like when you run on the football field…”. Joe Johnson echoed the same, noting how well Giannis held himself together. “ I thought Giannis handled it pretty professional,” Joe said.

Johnson was fully empathetic towards Giannis, stating, “He just squandered away a seven-point lead in 40 seconds. And then this happened.” He ended his statement with, “I think Haliburton’s father was definitely in the wrong, man. Definitely in the wrong.” But he wasn’t done just yet, he even took to Instagram to comment under the post, “Outta pocket he was forehead to forehead with that man ”.

However, not everyone in the NBA world rushed to defend Giannis. On Inside the NBA, the usually rowdy crew found themselves split. While Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson all agreed that Haliburton’s father had no business stepping onto the court, Shaquille O’Neal took a hardline stance against Giannis. “I’m not saying [Haliburton’s dad] is right,” Shaq said, “I’m just saying don’t be a punk and whine about it.” To him, this kind of postgame tension was just part of the job. “It comes with the territory… You lose and you move on.” The argument sparked a heated back-and-forth inside Studio J. Barkley and the others tried to reason with Shaq, but the Big Aristotle didn’t change his stance. After all the drama around the incident, both players reflected on what happened and it looks like the situation has reached its temporary conclusion.

Tyrese distances himself from his father’s outburst as Giannis Antetokounmpo responds with poise

After the on-court chaos, it’s understandable that the emotions must have been running high in the locker room. Especially so for Giannis Antetokounmpo as his team suffered a crushing one-point overtime loss. His confrontation with Tyrese’s father only managed to rub salt over the wounds. Yet, as the reactions from fans and media started to flood the internet, Giannis chose a composed and reflective tone when asked about the confrontation with Tyrese Haliburton’s father.

Speaking at length in the postgame press conference, Antetokounmpo stood firm on the values he believes in. “I believe in being humble in victory. That’s the way I am,” he said. “Now, there can be a lot of people out there that are like, no—when you win the game, you gotta talk, and it’s a green light for you to be disrespectful toward somebody else. I disagree. I’ve won a championship. They haven’t.”

Giannis then walked reporters through what unfolded. He recalled initially thinking Haliburton’s father was just an excited fan. But as the moment escalated, he realized the gestures and language weren’t just celebration—they were personal. “Coming in the floor and showing me his son’s towel… I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful,” Giannis said, visibly disappointed. He later shared they spoke after the altercation and were “in a good place.”

Feb 7, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) prepares for a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Moreover, Tyrese Haliburton didn’t shy away from calling out his father’s actions either. “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there,” he said. “Basketball is basketball, and let’s keep it on the court.” Haliburton explained he hadn’t seen the interaction live and was disappointed when shown the footage in the locker room. He made it clear that while his father was likely caught up in the moment, the boundaries had been crossed.

John Haliburton later issued a public apology on X, saying, “This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.” The incident sparked widespread debate, but both Giannis and Tyrese showed maturity in how they handled the fallout, keeping the focus where it belongs: on the game.

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