Charles Barkley hopes to see John Haliburton, the father of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, back in the stands soon.
Barkley called on NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the Pacers to allow the elder Haliburton to attend Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference finals in Indiana, saying he's "paid his dues" for his exchange with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"I want to reach out to Adam Silver tomorrow. Me and Draymond (Green) were talking, it's time to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building," Barkley said Wednesday on TNT following the Pacers' 138-135 comeback win over the New York Knicks. "Adam, I'm asking you - hey, my man paid his dues. He did something really, really stupid, but he's been punished. And I'm asking you and the Indiana Pacers to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building for Game 3 and 4.
"Listen, he paid his dues. It shouldn't be indefinite. He's been punished enough, he will never do anything that stupid again."
The Pacers announced earlier in May that John wouldn't attend games for the foreseeable future after he was involved in an on-court confrontation with Antetokounmpo following Indiana's series-clinching win over the Bucks. John issued an apology on X after the incident, acknowledging that it "was not a good reflection on our sport or my son."
Tyrese led the way for the Pacers in Game 1 against the Knicks with 31 points and 11 assists.
