Gianni’s Antetocounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton’s father come together violently after the Pacers’ narrow victory.
Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the title race in the NBA. At the Indiana Pacers, the Greek model athlete with the Milwaukee Bucks lost 118: 119 to Overtime – and thus also the first round series 1: 4.
Although Antetocounmpo achieved a triple double from 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists, he could not help his team to win. Because Indiana forced two ball losses in the last 29 seconds of the extension, and Haliburton set the end of an 8-0 run for an 8-0 run 1.3 seconds before the end.
At Giannis Antetokounmpo, the emotions were boiling up
Giannis caused excitement after the game when he got involved in a heated deal with John Haliburton, the father of Pacers-Guard Tyrese Haliburton. The trigger was the jubilation of the Pacers on the field perceived by the Bucks superstar as “disrespectful”. While the Pacers celebrated the success of the success, there was a confrontation between Antetocounmpo and John Haliburton.
According to Antetocounmpo, Haliburton Senior waved him with a towel and insulted him. “I believe in staying modest in the hour of victory,” said Antetocounmpo after the game, which meant the end of the season for the Bucks. “Many think you can be disrespectful after a win. I see it differently.”
Violent emotions after the game
After the defeat, Antetokounmpo stayed on the field when John Haliburton came up with him. The two faced each other before they had to be separated from Bucks players and security forces. “After a defeat, the emotions cook up,” said Antetocounmpo.
“At first I thought it was a fan, but then I recognized Tyrese’s father. I really appreciate Tyrese – he is a great player. His father came to the field and showed me a towel with his son’s face and said: ‘This is what we do. We do that.’ I found that very disrespectful, ”the Greek continued.
Clarifying conversation after the incident
Antetokounmpo also reported a clarifying conversation with Haliburton Senior after the argument. Tyrese Haliburton also commented on the incident and admitted that his father had behaved inappropriately.
“I don’t agree to what happened there,” said Haliburton. “Basketball should stay on the field. I think he was just happy when he saw that his son achieved the decisive basket and came to the field. We talked about it. The emotions of the game overwhelmed him. I spoke to him and I will also speak to Giannis. I don’t think my father behaved properly.”
Further arguments after the game
It wasn’t the only heated scene after the game. Antetocounmpo also came into a verbal examination with Pacers-Guard Bennedict Mathurin. During a hug, Antetokounmpo put his hand around Mathurin’s neck, causing the Pacers player to push him away. Here, too, the two had to be separated from their teammates.
“This series was a real war of the words,” said Haliburton. “A war of the gestures. Many personal things have happened. That is part of this rivalry that we have built in recent years.”