[Saba Sports News] After a historic performance against the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo experienced a frustrating postgame incident. Antetokounmpo delivered a remarkable 64-point game, setting a new career-high and breaking the Bucks’ franchise record for points in a game, previously held by Michael Redd since 2006. This achievement also marked the highest individual score in the NBA this season.
However, the celebration was marred when Antetokounmpo wanted to keep the game ball as a memento, but the Pacers reportedly took it away, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports. The two-time NBA MVP was visibly upset, confronting Pacers members including star guard Tyrese Haliburton and assistant coach Lloyd Pierce, but was seen returning to the locker room without the ball.
The Pacers’ initial reasoning for taking the ball was tied to a milestone for their rookie Oscar Tshiebwe, who scored his first career point in the game. Eventually, Bucks security managed to retrieve the ball for Antetokounmpo.
The game itself was tense, with Haliburton and Antetokounmpo involved in a flagrant foul review and a hard foul by Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith on Antetokounmpo leading to an on-court altercation. The Bucks’ decision to keep their starters in the game until the end, despite a significant lead, might have heightened the tensions.
This incident adds to Antetokounmpo’s history of unusual postgame events, recalling last season’s “Laddergate” incident in Philadelphia.