THOUGHTS | GIANNIS VERSUS HALIBURTON'S DAD

The Indiana Pacers have eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, sealing the series with an overtime thriller. Tyrese Haliburton’s fearless, buzzer-beating drive to the basket was a sight to behold. But what stings more—especially for Bucks fans—is how Gary Trent Jr. went from clutch to culprit in a heartbeat. Not exactly the “GOAT” kind of ending.

With Milwaukee out, the questions came fast: What if Damian Lillard never got injured? What happens to Doc Rivers? Is this the last time we see Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks jersey? 

All valid.

But the reason I’m writing this isn’t just the loss—it’s what happened after the game.

Apparently, Tyrese Haliburton’s dad approached Giannis post-game and mocked him. Giannis, understandably, didn’t take it well. The two players have since cleared the air, but the debate shifted to Inside the NBA, where Shaquille O’Neal went head-to-head with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.

Shaq’s take? Giannis should’ve ignored the heckling and just walked away. Barkley and the rest? They believe Haliburton’s dad crossed the line. But here’s where it gets messy—Shaq started listing off his accolades as a way to back his point, which honestly rubbed people the wrong way.

Still, I’m with Shaq on this one.

Sure, players can have fans removed during a game if they cross a line, but once the final buzzer sounds and the court floods with fans—especially in an away game—players need to keep their cool. Yes, fans shouldn’t be on the floor, but once that barrier's broken, the responsibility shifts. And no, mouthing off at someone—parent or not—isn’t the solution.

Barkley and Kenny came from an era where trash talk and fan hostility were part of the package.

Shaq played through that too, but also saw what happened when things got too personal—see: Malice in the Palace.

We've also seen how fast things can spiral: Wynne Arboleda’s meltdown turned him from floor general to public enemy overnight. Even the infamous Spiderman incident in the PBA showed that stunts and heckling aren’t going away anytime soon.

I get where Barkley is coming from—but today’s game is a media circus. One wrong move and your legacy is in jeopardy. Say what you want about Shaq, but he understands that his reactions carry weight. That’s why I agree with him: players need to be the bigger person, even when it’s unfair.

Giannis just put up a monster 30-point playoff triple-double. Now, he faces bigger questions about his future. As for the Pacers, he’ll probably be rooting for Cleveland to return the favor and send Indiana packing in the next round.