‘Nutso behaviour’: NBA rival’s dad taunts Giannis in ugly scene after playoff thriller

An NBA star has criticised his own dad, who was spotted taunting a rival player in a bold act that sparked ugly scenes in the playoffs.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future is set to be the talk of the off-season after the Milwaukee Bucks were knocked out of the NBA playoffs by the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday (AEST).

The ‘Greek Freak’ had 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists but the monster stat line was in vain as Milwaukee gave away a seven-point lead in the final 40 seconds to go down 119-118 to Indiana in an overtime thriller.

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Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton scored the game-winning lay-up over Antetokounmpo to seal a 4-1 series win and progress to the second round of the playoffs.

It was the latest instalment in one of the NBA’s strongest rivalries as Indiana knocked Milwaukee out of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

But ugly scenes played out in Indianapolis after the game — Haliburton’s father John was spotted coming onto the court and waving a Pacers towel at Antetokounmpo immediately after the final buzzer.

“This is nutso behaviour,” NBA pundit Kevin O’Conner wrote on X in response to John Haliburton’s taunt.

The duo were later seen exchanging words in tense scenes, with Antetokounmpo nearly touching heads with Haliburton’s dad before he was dragged away by Bucks officials.

Antetokounmpo didn’t go into details about the incident but gave a lengthy answer when asked about what happened in his post-game press conference.

“All I’ll say is that I believe in being humble in victory,” he said.

“I love Tyrese. He’s a great competitor … (his father) coming in the floor and showing me his son’s towel and saying, ‘This is what we do. This is what we f***ing do’. I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.”

Antetokounmpo added he has talked with Haliburton’s father and believes they are in a “good place”.

Giannis Antetokounmpo gets into an altercation after his Bucks were knocked out of the NBA playoffs. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Tempers flared between the Bucks and Pacers. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tyrese Haliburton said in his post-game press conference his dad was in the wrong.

“Me and my pops have talked about that and I don’t agree with what transpired there from him.

“Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he got excited, saw the gamewinner and came on the court.

“We had a conversation. He needs to allow me to play basketball and stay over there, I’ll come to him to celebrate.

“I’ll talk with Giannis eventually. I don’t think that my pops was in the right at all there. Unfortunate what happened at the end there.”

Tyrese Haliburton scores a basket over Giannis Antetokounmpo. Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP.

Giannis’ future with the Bucks could be up in the air. Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP.

Attention will quickly turn to Antetokounmpo’s future at the Bucks — the 30-year-old has two years left on his contract but the Bucks have an ageing roster and few draft picks to work with.

Milwaukee also lost Damian Lillard in Game 3 to a torn Achilles, and the team looks a shell of the squad that won the 2021 NBA championship.

Antetokounmpo is still at the peak of his powers and is set to be named to a seventh consecutive All-NBA First Team in recognition of another MVP calibre season.

NBA playoffs results

Denver Nuggets def LA Clippers 131-115 (Nuggets lead series 3-2)

Detroit Pistons def New York Knicks 106-103 (Knicks lead series 3-2)

Boston Celtics def Orlando Magic 120-89 (Celtics win series 4-1)

Indiana Pacers defeat Milwaukee Bucks 119-118 (Pacers win series 4-1)

Originally published as ‘Nutso behaviour’: NBA rival’s dad taunts Giannis in ugly scene after playoff thriller