The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up for their upcoming playoff series after the Indiana Pacers secured a surprising victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, eliminating them from the competition. This intense playoff round has sparked significant buzz, particularly due to a viral incident involving Tyrese Haliburton’s father and Giannis Antetokounmpo following the Bucks’ narrow 119-118 loss in Game 5.
John Haliburton, the father of Pacers’ star Tyrese, created a stir by rushing onto the court post-game. His exuberance escalated into playful taunting directed at Antetokounmpo, brandishing merchandise displaying his son’s face. Antetokounmpo later recounted the encounter, stating that he was subjected to trash talk while being told to exit the court area.
As the Cavaliers prepare for the semifinals against the Pacers, a supposed team shirt design surfaced online, humorously captioned “Control Your Dad,”seemingly aimed at Haliburton’s father. However, scrutiny revealed that these images may have been doctored, as no official announcement from the Cavaliers’ social media channels confirmed the shirt’s authenticity.
Looking ahead, the first game of the Cavaliers vs. Pacers series is scheduled for Sunday, May 4. The Cavaliers demonstrated their dominance in the first round by sweeping the Miami Heat, culminating in a staggering 55-point victory in Game 4.
Reactions from NBA Alumni on the Cavaliers’ Viral Shirt Design
The Cavaliers’ rumored shirt design caught the attention of several former NBA players, including Ron Harper and Etan Thomas. Upon seeing the images shared by sports journalist Jemele Hill on X, Harper enthusiastically responded.
“Right on!!!!! 👍🏽”Harper commented.
Conversely, Thomas expressed his views during a recent episode of ‘Cuse Sports Talk.’ He noted that while he found the altered shirt images amusing, he did not take them seriously.
“Lol that’s a funny meme but yes, Haliburton’s Dad was doing way too much,”Thomas captioned on his Instagram.
During the discussion, Thomas also took a moment to address the behavior of parents in sports, suggesting that some individuals could learn from the situation to maintain composure.
Haliburton Praises the Cavaliers Ahead of the Series
As anticipation builds for the Cavaliers vs. Pacers series, Tyrese Haliburton expressed respect for the Cavaliers’ formidable squad and recognized their strength as a collective.
“They’re really good, a really deep team, so we just got to be able to match that energy,”Haliburton remarked.
He acknowledges the challenge that lies ahead, as the Cavaliers topped the Eastern Conference with an impressive 64-18 record and are carrying significant momentum forward after their commanding performance in the first playoff round.