AN ugly row over the behaviour of a basketball star’s dad has turned into an extraordinary argument live on TV between two legends.
Milwaukee Bucks ace Giannis Antetokounmpo reacted angrily after a confrontation with the father of Indiana Pacers hero Tyrese Haliburton.
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Now Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley have exchanged furious words over the clash on NBA on TNT.
The Pacers clinched the series with a 119-118 victory in Game 5 against the Bucks.
Haliburton pouched the match-winning shot with 1.3 seconds left in overtime with a lay-up – a one-handed basket off the backboard.
As crazy celebrations erupted, Haliburton’s dad John appeared to initiate an unfortunate incident with Antetokounmpo.
They went face to face before security staff separated them.
Antetokounmpo accused Haliburton Senior of being “very, very disrespectful”.
He said Tyrese’s father not only came on the court and confronted him, but showed him a towel with his son’s face on it.
Tyrese admitted his dad was wrong – and Haliburton Senior has apologised too.
The Bucks player said: “I don’t agree with what transpired.
“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.”
His dad then posted on X: “I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions…
“This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.”
That might have seemed like some sort of resolution of the matter.
But then came four-time NBA winner Shaq disagreeing furiously with fellow icon Barkley.
The main debate was over whether Haliburton Sr was right to be so close to the players at the end.
Barkley said: “He’s not supposed to be on the court.
“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.”
But Shag disagreed and even suggested Antetokounmpo had initiated the flare-up.
He said: “Giannis went and talked to him, he said something to him.
“His dad is always on the court, every game. Giannis said something to him… he didn’t say nothing to Giannis.”
However, footage appears to make it clear Haliburton Sr strode onto the court and initiated the incident.
Shaq and Barkley even had a Round Two in their verbal ding-dong – when they later discussed the wider issue of players being approached by fans on the court.
Former LA Lakers center Shaq said: “You can’t do nothing, because you’re not allowed to do nothing.
“I played 19 years, that happened plenty of times.
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“(Giannis) lost, get out of there. Don’t be a punk and whine about it. Lose and move on.”
But Barkley hit back, asking his fellow icon: “You think just because you yell something, it makes it true?”
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