Shaq and Charles Barkley clash over Giannis Antetokounmpo altercation with Haliburton’s father after Bucks loss

Another angle of Tyrese Haliburton’s father and Giannis. 😬

(via @squaresense)

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Following the buzzer, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was involved in two separate confrontations. The first occurred when he was approached by Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, who had come onto the court waving a towel. Giannis later claimed that Haliburton’s father swore at him and taunted him in celebration. Players and team officials quickly intervened to separate the two.

The second incident involved Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. During what began as a postgame embrace, Giannis placed his hand on Mathurin’s neck, prompting the Pacers player to push him away. That exchange, too, was quickly broken up.

The incidents sparked a fiery debate between TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. Barkley called Haliburton’s father “an idiot” for stepping onto the court and confronting a player, stating that such actions have no place during professional games. Shaq, on the other hand, defended the emotional context, suggesting that Giannis may have provoked the exchange.

Giannis addressed the situation postgame, emphasizing his belief in humility in victory. “I believe in being humble… that was very, very disrespectful,” he said of the altercation.

Tyrese Haliburton later acknowledged his father’s actions were inappropriate, stating, “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all,” and added that the family had spoken privately about the incident.

The Pacers’ win ended Milwaukee’s playoff run, but the emotional fallout from the postgame drama continues to draw attention across the NBA landscape.