-
Tim BontempsGAME
PHILADELPHIA — Following Milwaukee’s hole 110-102 arrived in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night, a strange scene unfolded between Shove Super star Giannis Antetokounmpo, 76ers reserve center Montrezl Harrell and a ladder, culminating in Antetokounmpo pushing a 12-foot ladder out of his way and causing it to slide a few feet before tipping over.
“I’ve never tried to disrespect anyone in any way, any form,” Antetokounmpo said when he finally said, more than an hour after the match ended. “I feel like today was just an unfortunate event that took place.”
What made all of this happen was the second terrifying game in a row at the free throw line for Antetokounmpo, who won 4-15 from the charity line on Friday — after winning 4-11 in the match. won last Wednesday Cleveland Cavaliers.
So, after returning to the locker room after Friday night’s game, Antetokounmpo returned to the field to practice some free throws.
However, it was at that moment that things took a very strange turn.
After Antetokounmpo made seven free throws in a row — part of his routine was to take 10 in a row every time he stepped on the field — and made his eighth free throw, Harrell took the ball away and did not return — obviously saddened that Antetokounmpo prevented him from doing his job before Philadelphia played the second half of a back-to-back match against Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
“I respect every player,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know some players who don’t play now, they want to get more work, want to improve their skills and things, and I said, obviously we can shoot together. They said, they tell me no, this is their pitch, I should leave I was like, I have three more free throws, I’m already in seventh, I want to try to make 10th in a row. I threw my eighth. Came and took the ball out of my hand and I was amazed. I felt so unprofessional. I would never take the ball out of the hands of a professional athlete when he did. He’s trying to get his job done.”
Thanasis Antetokounmpo then goes and tries to talk to Harrell on the other end of the field, which leads to another discussion and Harrell leaves with the ball. By the time reporters knew what had happened, Harrell had already left the dressing room. The 76ers also declined to comment on what happened.
Giannis Antetokounmpo said he then went to get two more balls from the Philadelphia locker room and returned to the field, hoping to finish his routine. At the time, however, gym workers had placed a large ladder in front of the basket.
Antetokounmpo said: “I went back there to shoot and there was a ladder in front of me. “And I said, ‘Can you move the ladder? And they said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Can you move the ladder?’ They said no.’ I said, ‘Guys, I have two more free throws, can you move the ladder?’ And they said, ‘No.’
At that point, Antetokounmpo walked from the free-throw line to the basket and moved the ladder out of the way. Then, when gym workers moved the ladder back to the front of the basket again, Antetokounmpo shoved it out of the way and after it slipped a few feet, it overturned and fell on its side.
He then continued to complete his routine and headed back to Milwaukee’s locker room, where he was clearly upset about what had happened, before speaking to reporters a moment later. there.
“I don’t know if I should apologize because I don’t feel like I did anything wrong, except for the ladder that just fell. I feel entitled to work on my skills after a horrible night at the line. I think anyone in my position who’s had a night like mine will go out and take his free throws and if they don’t, they don’t really care about the game. their fight.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo said of the video of him pushing the ladder: “In the end, people will make things look the way they want. “Am I going to push the ladder all the way down? I absolutely don’t. I just tried to, I think I pushed it and it got stuck and fell. But people would make it look like they wanted to.”
“I know what happened. I think there are cameras all over the pitch. We can show the whole thing from the people coming and receiving the ball, the people in my face. I don’t want to get caught up in it all. those things.
“I don’t know if I should apologize because I don’t feel like I did anything wrong, except for the ladder that just fell. I feel entitled to work on my skills after a horrible night at the line. free throws I think anyone in my position who’s had a night like mine would go out and take their free throws.
“And if not, they don’t really care about their game.”
Antetokounmpo also said that he believes his reputation precedes him and that he will not disrespect anyone in the tournament – he said, he is not trying to do anything here either.
“In the end, I think everyone knows my personality,” he said. “I think people who know my personality know I never try to disrespect anyone in the NBA, on my coaching staff, on the opposing team. I respect with the best of my word any respect for anyone. any player whenever I’m asked, Or I’ve never disrespected the opposing coach or the coaching staff, Or whenever I’ve thrown the ball and completed my routine, since the new year Until now, I always shake the hand of each ball boy and make sure I thank them for the work I do because I know how hard it is to repeat their job of chasing the ball and making sure that they’re fine. I do it for my soccer boys and girls in Milwaukee. They help us when we shoot and I try to do it on the street too. , I’ve been known. with this.”
When asked what started all of this – his poor free throw in the last two games and what caused it – Antetokounmpo had a simple answer.
“I just don’t make them,” he said with a shrug. “It’s as simple as that. I don’t think there’s a problem. The ball doesn’t go in.”
