NBA – Giannis Antetokounmpo settles scores with Haliburton’s father: “I won, not them”

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Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks (DR)

Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif

The Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year, a result that could have serious consequences on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future. But following this defeat, what stood out most for the Greek Freak were the provocations from John Haliburton, Tyrese’s father.

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It’s now official: Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are out of the title race. Since their championship win in 2021, the team has followed that up with a conference semifinals exit and now three straight first-round eliminations—well below expectations for a talent like Giannis. That being said, he is far from the sole reason for the team’s failures.

While his playing style may no longer be as dominant as it once was, Giannis still puts up big numbers. On Tuesday, he finished with 30 points, 20 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. But what can you do when the team’s marquee winter signing, Kyle Kuzma, scores just 5 points? To make matters worse, Giannis was targeted by disrespectful taunts from none other than Tyrese Haliburton’s father.

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Giannis fires back at Haliburton’s father

A two-time MVP and NBA champion, Giannis deserves at least a baseline of respect. Already frustrated by yet another playoff exit and with a cloudy future in Milwaukee, he also had to deal with a heckler in the stands. The Pacers’ staff reportedly issued a lengthy apology, suggesting the incident was serious. Speaking to reporters, Giannis didn’t hold back:

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“I believe in humility after victory. That’s how I’ve always been. Some people think that when you win, you get to talk trash and disrespect your opponents—I don’t agree with that. I’ve won an NBA title. The Pacers haven’t. I’m not trying to downplay what they’ve done, but I remember when I won in 2021, my mom was afraid to even come down to the court to celebrate. Except for my brother who was on the team, my family has never been courtside.”

“I just got eliminated. I’m dealing with a flood of emotions. Then I see this fan approaching me and talking trash. Later, I found out it was Tyrese’s dad. He waved a towel with his son’s face on it and started talking. To me, that’s incredibly disrespectful. My father, who’s no longer with us, was the most respectful man on the planet.”