Frustrations boiled over for Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo following a 110–102 loss to the 76ers on Saturday, causing a bizarre scene to unfold while the two-time MVP was practicing free throws postgame.
After an abysmal 4-for-15 night from the charity stripe, Antetokounmpo came back out onto the court to work on his free throws. However, as he was nearing the end of his shooting session, he encountered a group of arena workers putting up a large ladder in front of the basket.
Antetokounmpo appeared to confront the Wells Fargo Center employees, walking off the free throw line to do so. When the workers did not move the ladder, the Bucks star shoved it out of the way, causing the ladder to slide a few feet before it tipped over and fell.
Speaking to reporters almost an hour after the final whistle, Antetokounmpo said that he’s “never tried to disrespect anyone,” describing the incident as “an unfortunate event that took place.”
“I went back out there to shoot and there was a ladder in front of me,” Antetokounmpo said, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “And I said, ‘Can you please move the ladder?’ And they said, ’No.’ I said, ‘Can you guys please move the ladder?’ They said, ’No.’ I was like, ‘Guys, I have two more free throws, can you please move the ladder?’ And they said, ’No.’”
When asked about the perception of his actions, the 27-year-old explained that he did not intend to make the ladder fall, but that he felt justified in putting in additional work on the court.
“At the end of the day, people are going to make things look the way they want it to look,” Antetokounmpo said of the video that surfaced of him shoving the ladder. “Did I mean to push the ladder all the way down? I totally did not. I just tried to, I think I pushed it and it got caught and fell. But people are going to make it look the way they want it to look.
“I don’t know if I should apologize because I don’t feel like I did anything wrong, except the ladder just fell,” he added, per Bontemps. “I feel like it’s my right for me to work on my skills after a horrible night at the free throw line. I think anybody in my position that had a night like me would go out and work on his free throws. And if they didn’t, they don’t really care about their game.”
The incident with the ladder wasn’t the only postgame altercation involving Antetokounmpo Friday. The Bucks star also got into a disagreement with 76ers center Montrezl Harrell about the use of the court, as Harrell was apparently upset with Antetokounmpo for preventing him from getting in his own postgame workout.
Harrell reportedly took the ball that Antetokounmpo was using prior to the ladder incident and left the court. He then left the arena before reporters were aware of what happened, before offering up a brief explanation of his actions on Twitter.
“Aye make sure you get the complete story,” Harrell wrote in his tweet. “I ask the man can he get off the court so I can workout they had to change the court over he ignore me so hey that’s what you get! Respect is respect! GOODNIGHT!”
The Bucks fell to 11–4 with the loss, while the Sixers improved to 8–7.
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For more Milwaukee Bucks coverage, go to Bucks Zone.
