Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley were involved in a heated debate over Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Milwaukee Bucks crashed out of the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night.
The Indiana Pacers secured a series-clinching 119-118 victory in Game 5 against the Bucks, which came through Tyrese Haliburton’s go-ahead layup with 1.3 seconds left in overtime.
Giannis was involved in an altercation with Haliburton’s father, John, as the game-winner sparked wild on-court celebrations at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
According to the Bucks star, Haliburton’s father waved a towel and swore at him after approaching him.
Antetokounmpo, who has been linked with playing for a new team next season, lingered after the sudden defeat, which is when Haliburton ran onto the court and started talking to him.
The two were seen standing face-to-face before they were pulled away by Bucks players and team security.
It was the second skirmish the two-time NBA MVP had to be pulled away from in the aftermath of Game 5.
He also exchanged words with Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin as the two shared an embrace, during which Antetokounmpo put his hand around Mathurin’s neck, causing the Pacers guard to push him away before they were separated.
After the second incident between Giannis and Haliburton, Shaq and Barkley debated who was in the wrong.
“He’s not supposed to be on the court,” Chuck began of Haliburton’s father.
“He’s on the court in his face… His dad is not supposed to be on the court.
“That dad is an idiot, and if you don’t think he’s an idiot, then you’re an idiot too.”
Shaq, however, disagreed with Barkley’s assessment, and the pair got into a shouting match at the Inside the NBA desk.
“Giannis went and talked to him, he said something to him,” the former Los Angeles Lakers star said.
“His dad is always on the court, every game. Giannis said something to him… he didn’t say nothing to Giannis.”
Footage has since emerged that shows Haliburton’s father making his way onto the court, appearing to instigate the incident.
The debate continued after Antetokounmpo and Pacers guard Haliburton made their post-game comments.
“You can’t do nothing, because your not allowed to do nothing,” Shaq said of what NBA players should do when they are approached by fans or others on court.
“I played 19 years, that happened plenty of times.
“(Giannis) lost, get out of there. Don’t be a punk and whine about it. Lose and move on.”
Barkley, though, disagreed once more.
“You think just because you yell something, it makes it true?” he asked Shaq.
“The thing that bothers me, if Giannis had whooped his a**, he would be in trouble.”
Speaking after the game, which ended Milwaukee’s season, Antetokounmpo urged his opponents to be ‘humble’ in victory.
“I believe in being humble in victory,” Giannis said, as fans continue to speculate on his future.
“A lot of people out there that are like, no, when you win the game, you talk s*** and it’s a green light for you to be disrespectful towards somebody else. I disagree.
“His dad coming on the floor and showing me his son — a towel with his face on, (saying), ‘This is what we do. We do this.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.”
Haliburton, meanwhile, also referenced the incident that involved his father.
“I don’t agree with what transpired there from him,” the Pacers star said.
“Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make a game winner and came on the court, but we had a conversation.
“He needs to just allow me to play basketball and stay over there and I’ll come to him to celebrate.
“But the emotions of the game got excited there. I talked with him. I’ll talk with Giannis. I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there.”
