The Indiana Pacers<\/a> have permitted John Haliburton to watch in a suite for Game 4 of the East Finals versus the New York Knicks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> previously noted that his father would love to finally make his comeback<\/a> to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n John Haliburton\u2019s return comes after Charles Barkley pleaded<\/a> to both NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Indiana president Kevin Pritchard on his behalf.<\/p>\n After the scandal in the aftermath of the team\u2019s first-round clincher against the Milwaukee Bucks, John Haliburton drew a major backlash from fans and experts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Subsequently, the Pacers announced that Haliburton won\u2019t be allowed to watch postseason games again for the \u201cforeseeable future.\u201d Since then, he did not attend the past eight games, completely missing their five-game East Semis upset against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stephen A. Smith<\/a> believes the reprieve is overdue, with the ESPN expert welcoming the decision to let Haliburton watch in-person again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy about it,\u201d Smith said on First Take. \u201cIt\u2019s something I came on last week and said should happen.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us should be defined by our worst mistakes or moments. You want to have compassion, empathy, and recognize that, as egregious as his act was, this man deserves a second chance. \u2026 He\u2019s been gone for eight games, and that\u2019s long enough.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s his son out there, and this could be a once-in-a-lifetime run. As his dad, someone who clearly did a wonderful job raising Tyrese, he should be given that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n SAS expects John Haliburton to finally act with class<\/p>\n Stephen A. Smith hopes John Haliburton has learned his lesson from the controversy he previously caused.<\/p>\n Haliburton stormed the court after Game 5 of the first round, waving his towel while visibly taunting Antetokounmpo face-to-face. It led the Bucks superstar to call him out for his \u201cdisrespectful\u201d act<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Milwaukee](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2212656251-940x627.jpg\")
Photo by Justin Casterline\/Getty ImagesStephen A. Smith reacts to John Haliburton\u2019s return in attending Indiana postseason games<\/p>\n