Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, is separated from Indiana Pacers players forward Obi Toppin, second from right, and guard Bennedict Mathurin, right, after Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday.
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was so excited about Indiana’s improbable overtime rally that he didn’t realize what led to the postgame scuffle between his teammates and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
Then he got to the locker room, watched the replay and winced when he saw his father, John, on the court, confronting two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I had no idea it happened until I got back to the locker room and they showed me the video of my pops,” the two-time All-Star said after he made the decisive layup with 1.3 seconds left to give Indiana a 119-118 victory and a 4-1 series win. “We had a little talk about it. I don’t agree with what transpired there. I think basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited.”
Antetokounmpo wasn’t pleased, either, after his team blew a seven-point lead in the final 40 seconds of overtime, sending the Bucks to their third straight first-round exit. The two-time MVP didn’t recognize John Haliburton, thinking he was just another fan who had run onto the court.
Antetokounmpo said he likes Haliburton, calling him a great competitor, but he said John Haliburton displaying a towel with his son’s image while yelling “this is what we (expletive) do” was wrong.
“I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful,” said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists.
Haliburton seemed genuinely upset about the incident, promising to reach out to Antetokounmpo before the teams play again.
“I’ll talk to Giannis about it eventually,” said Haliburton, who grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there. It’s unfortunate what happened at the end there.
“It’s unfortunate what happened there (the scuffle), but I think it’s just competition,” he added. “As far as my pops, I don’t agree with what happened there. We’ll have a conversation.”
Antetokounmpo told a story about the Bucks’ 2020-21 championship season, when his mother attended every game from mid-February through the title run. The Greek superstar said his mom wasn’t even sure whether she could come onto the court to hug him at the end of the final game and noted that his family members typically don’t sit courtside.
The Pacers and Bucks have met 20 times over the past two seasons, with the Pacers winning eight 11 playoff games and both postseason series in an increasingly heated rivalry.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard’s devastating Achilles injury could have long-lasting implications that impact the Milwaukee Bucks far beyond what looks like another first-round exit from the NBA Playoffs.
It could also usher in the departure of superstar Antetokounmpo.
The 34-year-old Lillard, who suffered a left Achilles injury in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, could miss most or all of next season. That would make him 35 or 36 when he’s able to return to the court – which complicates matters for a Bucks team already coping with age and roster issues.
Lillard was acquired from Portland in 2023 to pair with Antetokounmpo. He had signed a two-year, $122 million extension the previous year that has yet to kick in. Lillard will make around $54 million next season and has a $58 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Meanwhile, dealing Khris Middleton in February for 29-year-old Kyle Kuzma has not worked out as planned. Milwaukee is down 3-1 to Indiana and faces its third consecutive first-round exit as early as Tuesday night.
Rumors have been percolating for months that nine-time All-Star Antetokounmpo sees the writing on the wall and may angle for a trade this offseason. The 30-year-old forward will be without his co-star for an unknown amount of time, and the Bucks have little flexibility to improve their aging roster.
That has prompted at least one sportsbook to offer odds on which team Antetokounmpo will suit up for in the 2025-26 season if not Milwaukee.
