INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers and his father, John Haliburton, pose for a photograph prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 11, 2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) Ron Hoskins/Getty Images
Tyrese Haliburton will have his dad in attendance as he tries to win his first NBA Finals.
During Wednesday's media availability before Game 1 of The Finals Thursday night, Haliburton revealed to reporters that his dad will be "in the building" for the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
We would assume that means John Haliburton will travel for road games too. The father of the Indiana Pacers star only attended two home games during the Eastern Conference Finals after briefly being banned from going at all following his altercation with Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the playoffs.
John Haliburton got into it with the Milwaukee Bucks superstar after his son made the game-winning layup in Game 5 of the Pacers' first-round series to eliminate Giannis and his teammates.
The Pacers organization decided afterwards to prevent the elder Haliburton from attending games, a decision he agreed to. John Haliburton missed eight postseason contests before returning to watch Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
He was also in the arena, watching from a suite, when the Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks at home in Game 6 after previously skipping Game 5 in New York.
"I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight's game," John Haliburton wrote on social media after the incident. "This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again."
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 13: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers greets fans after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 13, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. Jason Miller/Getty Images
Tyrese Haliburton, who has led Indiana to its first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, said at the time his father was in the wrong.
However, he contended today that some of the post-confrontation commentary got out of hand.
"The commentary around my dad got a little ridiculous. That's just sports media sometimes. It is what it is," Haliburton said, via ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel.
Haliburton added that his father was "wrong, but I don't think any of us want to be defined by our worst moments."
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder will get underway at 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday night on ABC.