Tyrese Haliburton’s biggest supporter is about to be back in the building.
After being benched from the stands due to a heated incident with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the playoffs, John Haliburton, the father of Indiana Pacers’ All-Star point guard, has officially been cleared to return for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
According to reports, the elder Haliburton is set to watch Tuesday night’s critical matchup against the New York Knicks from the comfort (and security) of a private suite inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The move appears aimed at maintaining high energy while avoiding a repeat of the chaos that led to his temporary ban.
John was sidelined for the Pacers’ last eight playoff games — both home and away — after storming the court and shouting directly at Antetokounmpo during the closing moments of a dramatic overtime win that eliminated Milwaukee. That fiery scene earned him a timeout from all Pacers events, despite his reputation as a passionate and vocal supporter of his son.
"I believe in being humble in victory… that [was] very disrespectful"
Giannis speaks on confrontation with Tyrese Haliburton’s dad pic.twitter.com/8u9xvTmqwb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 30, 2025
Still, absence hasn’t dulled his spirit. While barred from the arena, John Haliburton has been spotted cheering from a local Indianapolis bar, especially after Tyrese’s cold-blooded buzzer-beater in Game 1 of the Knicks series that sent Madison Square Garden into stunned silence.
With Indiana holding a 2-1 series lead, Game 4 becomes a pivotal moment, and having Haliburton Sr. back in the building adds a layer of emotional fire to the occasion. If the series stretches to six games, it’ll return to Indy, and you can bet John Haliburton won’t be watching from the bar next time.