Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Highly Doubtful He Has the Game Ball From His Career Night

Giannis says he knows how the game ball feels and this wasn’t it.

Wednesday night’s Pacers-Bucks game ended with more drama than might be expected from a 140–126 final score. 

Milwaukee got the victory, led by a career-high (and franchise record) 64 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the two-time NBA MVP wanted the game ball as a keepsake for his achievement. When he didn’t get it, he became angry. 

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is restrained by a coach outside the Indiana Pacers locker room after the game at Fiserv Forum / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Furthermore, Antetokounmpo was convinced that the Pacers were keeping the game ball from him. He chased the team down the arena tunnel toward the Indiana locker room to get his prize.

Eventually, Antetokounmpo got a ball retrieved by the Bucks’ security staff, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. However, he didn’t believe that it was the ball that was used in the game, as he told reporters afterward.

“I know how the game ball felt,” Antetokounmpo said, per The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “The ball that I have, which I will take and give to my mom, for sure, but I don’t know if it’s actually the game ball. But it’s okay. Lives continue.” 

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

Antetokounmpo appeared to gain some healthy perspective on the matter, based on his comments. But even if it’s just a ball, he also seemed extremely suspicious that he wasn’t given the correct ball. 

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle explained that the team also wanted to keep the game ball for a milestone, as rookie Oscar Tshiebwe scored his first NBA point. According to him, there are two game balls, so Antetokounmpo could have one while Tshiebwe got the other. Carlisle seemed surprised that the situation escalated to the point where Bucks and Pacers players confronted each other outside the locker room. 

Yet Antetokounmpo is still doubtful. (And teammates, including Damian Lillard, back him up.) Perhaps this will carry over to the next matchup between the Bucks and Pacers, scheduled for Jan. 1.

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