Wednesday night’s ending to a Bucks-Pacers game proved to be one of the most bizarre nights in recent NBA memory thanks to some controversy surrounding the game ball. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career and franchise-high 64 points in the win, but drama quickly followed as he was seen furious on the court when he found out Indiana had taken the game ball.
Apparently, Pacers rookie Oscar Tshiebwe was given the game ball because he scored his first career-point, leading Antetokounmpo to storm into the tunnel to try and retrieve it. Security eventually returned a ball to him, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban weighed in on the controversy and doesn’t think Antetokounmpo should have gotten the memento.
“I’d give the ball to the rookie,” Cuban told TMZ Sports. “With situations like that I’d take the box score, I’d get his teammates to sign it and I’d frame it for him.”
The Pacers took the game ball after Giannis' 64-point career-high
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 14, 2023
Giannis attempted to retrieve the ball
(via @ChrisBHaynes)
pic.twitter.com/bFQLGmbuvv https://t.co/4rtkDzcNJD
Cuban went on to say if it was his home game, he’d give the ball to the rookie unless the first-year player was fine with Antetokounmpo getting the game ball. He also said Antetokounmpo could have bartered for the ball. For example, he could have offered Tshiebwe a signed jersey with a congratulatory message about his first NBA point instead of just taking the prize for himself.
Hi. You see this? This is Oscar Tshiebwe. This made free throw on Saturday didn't count.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) December 14, 2023
Because the IST finale stats don't count. Even though the rest of the IST stats DID count. This is the real, bizarre story of how Gameballgate started: https://t.co/DnOmyd8ZzE pic.twitter.com/N0Bt4HCs8h
It’s worth noting that Tshiebwe’s lone point came at the charity stripe—the same place he scored a point on Saturday’s in-season tournament championship game against the Lakers. Stats from that game don’t count as regular season stats, so Wednesday’s free-throw make was technically his first official NBA point.
