Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s dad, John Haliburton, will reportedly be allowed to attend the NBA team’s upcoming game after his previous ban.
ESPN reported on Monday, May 26, that John could watch the Pacers’ Game 4 match-up against the New York Knicks in person from a suite. (The Pacers are currently leading the Eastern Conference Finals 2-1.)
Sources told the outlet that John would continue to abstain from attending the team’s road games.
John has not been present at a game after making headlines last month for getting into a heated exchange with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Following the incident, a Pacers spokesperson told ESPN earlier this month that John would not be present at any home or away games for the foreseeable future.
John has since issued an apology after taunting Antetokounmpo, 30, on the court at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where they were eventually separated by Bucks players and arena security.
“I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game,” John posted via X in April. “This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.”
Antetokounmpo, for his part, addressed the incident during a postgame interview at the time.
“I believe in being humble in victory,” he said. “A lot of people out there that are like, ‘No, when you win the game, you talk s*** and it’s a green light for you to be disrespectful toward somebody else.’ I disagree.”
Antetokounmpo continued, “Losing the game, emotions run high. Having a fan — which at the moment I thought it was a fan, but then I realized it was Tyrese’s dad. Which, I love Tyrese. I think he’s a great competitor. His dad coming on the floor and showing me his son — a towel with his face on [it], [saying] ‘This is what we do. We do this.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.”
Antetokounmpo noted that he and John spoke and are “in a good place.” Tyrese, meanwhile, told reporters at the time that he doesn’t “agree with what transpired there from him.”
“Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make a game winner and came on the court, but we had a conversation,” Tyrese, 25, said. “He needs to just allow me to play basketball and stay over there and I’ll come to him to celebrate. But the emotions of the game got excited there. I talked with him. I’ll talk with Giannis. I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there.”
