Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from an eight-game absence Saturday night time to steer the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-103 win over the Chicago Bulls. The 2-time MVP poured in 29 factors, which he capped off with a fastbreak windmill dunk within the last two seconds after the sport was already nicely determined.
After the ultimate buzzer sounded, Bulls ahead Nikola VucevicVučević and guard Coby White approached Antetokounmpo to share their irritation along with his pointless dunk which led to each benches emptying to defuse the state of affairs.
“We’re eleventh within the East,” Antetokounmpo stated. “Bought to maintain discovering an identification. And if that is to get somewhat little bit of scrappy on the finish, so be it. We’re not champs. Why ought to we play the clock out and have respect and honest play? We’re combating for our lives proper now.”
The Bucks went 2-6 in Antetokounmpo’s absence, and are simply 13-19 on the season. Whereas it is a night-and-day distinction when Giannis is on the ground, the Bucks struggled to persistently string collectively wins, even in a weak Japanese Convention.
“That is actual powerful,” Antetokounmpo stated. “I have been 13 years within the league. If we carry on dropping, most likely half of the staff not going to be right here. We’re not going to make the playoffs. I actually do not care. On the finish of the day, I simply need to be out there, be wholesome and assist my staff win. And if [a windmill dunk] is what has to occur for everyone to get up and perceive, we’re combating for our lives and we received to get our arms soiled, so be it.”
Bulls gamers took exception with Antetokounmpo’s actions.
“He should not have dunked the ball,” White stated after the sport. “It is disrespectful to the sport. I stated, ‘Bro, you are higher than that.’ The sport is over with. Why you bought to try this? It is a respect factor.”
Vučević tried to rationalize Antetokounmpo’s actions, saying, “I am assuming Giannis was mad about that report that got here out the Bulls did not need to commerce for him.”
Commerce hype hovered over the Bucks for a lot of the season after a report surfaced that Antetokounmpo might request one by midseason. There are conflicting reviews about his precise willingness to request a commerce, however feedback final night time counsel he isn’t proud of the state of issues in Milwaukee.
