Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a performance for the ages, but he didn’t exactly get to savor it immediately.
After pouring in a Bucks-record 64 points in Wednesday night’s 140-126 win over Indiana, Antetokounmpo sprinted off the court after a Pacers assistant coach took the game ball to the visiting locker room.
And the Greek Freak wanted it back.
The broadcast caught Antetokounmpo sprinting down the tunnel toward the Pacers’ locker room as a member of the Bucks tried to stop him.
Nearly a minute passed before Antetokounmpo emerged back on the court as other coaches tried to calm down other members of the Bucks.
According to Bleacher Report, the Pacers’ assistant had wanted to grab the ball for rookie Oscar Tshiebwe after he scored his first NBA point tonight.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Bucks security was able to get the ball back for Antetokounmpo.
“What happened at the end of the game was unfortunate,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. “There was a misunderstanding about the game ball. It was Oscar Tshiebwe’s first NBA point, so we always get the game ball. We were not thinking about Giannis’ franchise record so we grabbed the ball. A couple minutes later several of their players ended up in our hallway and there was a big fracas, melee, whatever.
“I don’t think any punches were landed, but my general manager got elbowed in the ribs by one of their players. He certainly has a bruised rib, but who knows if it’s anything more than that.”
Carlisle continued that the incident was an “unfortunate situation” and that they didn’t need the official game ball.
Antetokounmpo would not confirm if he had the game ball when he spoke with reporters.
In response to a question, he said he had “a ball” but he didn’t know if it was the game ball.
“It doesn’t feel like the game ball to me,” Antetokounmpo said. “It feels like a brand new ball. I can tell. I played 35 minutes today and I know how the game ball felt. The ball that I have, which I’ll take I’ll give it to my mom, but I don’t know if it’s actually the game ball.”
He said it would be OK and that “life continued.”
The Bucks star broke the team record for most points in a game, 57 set by Michael Redd in 2006.
Antetokounmpo was 20 of 28 from the field, made 24 of 32 free throws and had 14 rebounds.
He became the first player in NBA history to make at least 20 field goals and 20 free throws in a game while shooting at least 70 percent on each. It’s also the most points with fewer than 30 field-goal attempts in a game in NBA history.
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