You can totally understand why Giannis Antetokounmpo would be irked that he couldn’t get the game ball on his own court after the Milwaukee Bucks rolled to a 140-126 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
Giannis had just torched Indy for 64 points, yet the Pacers were playing the part of Patrick Mahomes-style sore loser, only way worse in my opinion.
It was explained later that the Pacers were hanging onto the ball because rookie Oscar Tshiebwe had scored his first NBA point, and typically that’s the way it works. You get a game ball without exception. However, this was a historic night for Giannis and the Bucks franchise, so you can see where the beef would come in.
Since Tshiebwe had literally only one point from the free throw line, though, I feel like on principle, you should have to make at least one field goal before you start getting game balls. Whatever. The hilarity that ensued with Giannis getting all pissed, Myles Turner being petty, and even the Pacers assistant who laughed as he carried the ball away was all worth it in the end.
Have a hard time believing there’s a misunderstanding when Giannis asks for the ball and the Pacers assistant proceeds to smirk and then walk away with it. Pretty lame of Rick to play the victim pic.twitter.com/12arrVagJH https://t.co/PuUcxXue0U
— Jake Reetz (@jajareetz) December 14, 2023
Myles Turner talking like this after Giannis and AD dropped a combined 105 points on his head in less than a week is CRAZY https://t.co/wUTPTEdX74
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 14, 2023
About Last Night…
@Bucks @Giannis_An34 pic.twitter.com/5R7jvrndwA— Elder Marques Johnson (@olskool888) December 14, 2023
And, get this: According to Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, a Bucks player elbowed Indiana’s general manager in the ribs.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on why the team tried to keep the game ball: “It was Oscar Tshiebwe’s first official NBA point…We were not thinking about Giannis’ franchise [64-point] record.” He also says a Bucks player elbowed their GM in the ribs. pic.twitter.com/iknKLN4l0w
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 14, 2023
Giannis was damn near about to kill somebody to get his hands on that ball. And the best part is, who knows if he even got the proper one? The Pacers could’ve easily swapped it out. Even wilder, Giannis doesn’t have the ball from his 50-point, NBA Finals-closing performance in Game 6.
The saga takes another turn. Giannis says he is not sure if the game ball he received is the actual game ball. He also reveals he doesn’t possess the Game 6 Finals game ball either.
Full answer: pic.twitter.com/dcIxc17oJr
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 14, 2023
Tensions were already high on this particular evening from when the Pacers basically tried to knock Giannis out of the game, leading to one of the better “HOLD ME BACK” moments ever from the Greek Freak’s brother, Thanasis:
I’m crying bro watch Thanasis pic.twitter.com/bNvfJrHciI
— ᴅ ʀ ᴇ ᴡ (@FeelLikeDrew) December 14, 2023
Also gotta love Thanasis thinking he was getting applauded (or at least it seemed so) when he hit the court for garbage time:
Thanasis thought they were clapping for him entering 🤣
pic.twitter.com/A3PUJ234NP— Mink Flow (@currypistonn) December 14, 2023
I guess Giannis just has to rectify the whole situation himself by scoring 70 some other time. It’s ridiculous that he couldn’t get the ball for setting the franchise record for points at home. On the other hand, it’s so funny that a bunch of grown-a** men are fighting over a silly basketball. Just outlandish behavior from all parties involved.
I mean hey, the NBA is an entertainment business first and foremost. Giannis is one of the biggest superstars, and he delivered on and off the court in spades to add some spice to an otherwise sleepy, inconsequential regular-season game.
These Central Division adversaries have a two-game home-and-home series starting on New Year’s Day. Can’t wait to see all the bad blood that boils over in that one. It’s a shame it’ll be completely overshadowed, since that’s the same date as the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Anyway, here are all 64 points Giannis scored, including 24 from the foul line on 32 attempts (!) to complement a 20-for-28 shooting night. He bricked all three of his shots from 3-point range. Hey Giannis buddy, I think it’s OK to stop taking those. You aren’t good at them. Accept it.
