Why Shaq Sides With Giannis Antetokounmpo in Bucks-Pacers Game Ball Dispute

The Hall of Famer weighed in on the Bucks superstar’s postgame outburst after his historic game against Indiana.

Who keeps the game ball?

That is the question that continues to rage on around the NBA after Giannis Antetokounmpo made headlines for chasing down a ball after scoring a career-high 64 points in Wednesday’s home win against the Pacers.

With fans and pundits still debating the Bucks superstar’s post-game outburst, Shaquille O’Neal offered his take on the situation. Speaking with TMZ Sports on Thursday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer not only sided with Antetokounmpo, but also backed him for being upset with the Pacers for wanting to keep the game ball for rookie Oscar Tshiebwe, who scored his first career point.

“I think by the letter of the law, if you’re playing at home, you should get the ball in both circumstances,” O’Neal said. “But, you know I think Giannis had the right to be upset. [Speaking as Giannis] ‘Hey, We’re in Milwaukee, I just made history, I want the ball.’ And you know, he went after the ball.”

O’Neal also addressed the Greek Freak’s dispute that the ball he eventually received wasn’t the actual “game ball,” prompting him to add to the “conspiracy” when asked if they’re all the same. 

“No, all the balls are different,” O’Neal retorted.

With O’Neal, Mark Cuban and others weighing in, Wednesday night’s wild scene figures to follow both teams, and especially Antetokounmpo, and add more tension heading into their next matchup on Jan. 1.