Following a dramatic Game 5 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, publicly addressed a heated moment involving Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After the Indiana Pacers erased a 118–111 overtime deficit with just 40 seconds left—capped by five clutch points from Tyrese, including a layup with 1.1 seconds to go—emotions were high. Cameras caught John Haliburton approaching Antetokounmpo after the game and saying something that led to a tense exchange.
Antetokounmpo later called the encounter “disrespectful,” saying: “I’m happy for his son. But coming at me, cursing, and disrespecting me—it’s unacceptable.”
In response to the backlash, John Haliburton issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son, and I will not make that mistake again.”
Tyrese Haliburton also criticized his father’s behavior, admitting, “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all,” and said he planned to speak with him about it.
As the Pacers prepare for a second-round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bucks face an offseason that could bring significant changes.
Duke Lands Major Commitment on Sunday
The Duke Blue Devils, under head coach Jon Scheyer, are coming off a strong 35-4 season.
Duke advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament before falling to the Houston Cougars. On their path to San Antonio, the Blue Devils notched victories over Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, and Mount St. Mary’s.
Following the season, Duke saw significant roster turnover.
Scheyer and his coaching staff now face the task of reloading the team after the departures of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, and Khaman Maluach, all of whom entered the 2025 NBA Draft.
On Sunday, Duke made a recruiting push for five-star forward Christian Collins.
Initially, 247Sports reporter Dushawn London reported that Duke planned to visit Collins at his high school on Monday, but that visit was later rescheduled for Tuesday.
The Blue Devils are set to visit St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, where Collins, a 6-foot-8 class of 2026 standout, is currently enrolled. According to 247Sports, Collins is rated as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 power forward, and the No. 5 overall player nationally.
Several other programs, including Alabama, Arizona State, Arizona, California, and Georgia Tech, have also expressed interest in Collins.
Meanwhile, before Collins makes his college choice, Duke is preparing to welcome an impressive 2025 recruiting class that features five-star prospects Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia, along with four-star Cayden Boozer.
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