Giannis Antetokounmpo let his emotions get the best of him on Tuesday, and the reigning MVP pays the price for it. In a turbulent second quarter between his Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards, Giannis, who had been buried several times, finally lost his temper after a call-up. The Bucks called time-out, but Antetokounmpo delivered in his frustration a headbutt to Wizards big man Moe Wagner. He was called for a flagrant-2 offense and suspended.
As a result of the head shot, the NBA suspended the Greek Freak for the Bucks’ final seeding game Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The coach of Antetokounmpo was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up.
“Terrible action,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I could go back and turn back time and go back to that play, I would not do it. But at the end of the day, we’re all human, we all make mistakes. I think I’m doing a great job. all year, in my career, of keeping and focusing on the game, but like I said, we are human, we make mistakes.But at the end of the day, learn from it, keep playing basketball and keep moving forward. “
Regarding why he reacted this way, the reigning MVP said he reacted to what he felt was a build up of emotion throughout the course of the game. While Wagner was shocked by Antetokounmpo’s frustration, he was not necessarily angry with him.
“I do not think I was frustrated with Wagner,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think it was just the whole thing, like building up dirty plays in my mind. Men tripping me, boys falling at my feet, holding me, hitting me. It was not just – I do not have anything against Wagner, it was not just him. “
The release was the third of Antetokounmpo’s career in the regular season and fourth overall. Based on historic presidency, Antetokounmpo’s one-game suspension was expected. Hasheem Thabeet (2013) and Kevin Garnett (2015) both faced off against opposing players and were arrested for their team’s next match. Milwaukee’s next game comes against Memphis as the Grizzlies desperately try to fight their way into the play-off tournament for the final playoff spot of the Western Conference.
Milwaukee has had nothing to play for long since securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, so losing Antetokounmpo for a game does not affect his playoff future. But the Bucks are struggling to get into rhythm in Orlando because of a combination of residual and coronavirus-induced deficiencies. They will have a relatively easy first-round series against the Magic in which they will hopefully be able to gain the momentum they have lost, but after finishing they will have to win three very difficult series against other competitors.
Now Antetokounmpo loses his definitive tune-up game with the Bucks. They do not exactly need this profit, but getting him those minutes on the court would have been valuable. Now? They are that much closer to entering the playoffs with unnecessary rest.
