Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Ladder Beef With 76ers’ Montrezl Harrell: Explained

Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t have many obvious flaws in his game, but if there was one, it would probably be his ability to make free throws.

Over the past three years, Antetokounmpo has traditionally struggled with free throws. For the majority of his career, his percentages have fluctuated, and he also takes a very long time to make the shots.

And boy, did he have trouble with them on Friday against the 76ers. In the contest, he had a 4-15 line performance.

He was so awful that, following the 76ers victory, he returned to the court actually to drill his free throws.

That’s where the conflict all began.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Ladder Beef With 76ers’ Montrezl Harrell: Explained

After Philadelphia defeated Milwaukee 110-102, Antetokounmpo wished to work on his free throw technique. In the Bucks’ defeat, the two-time NBA MVP missed 11 of his 15 free throw tries, lowering his season free throw percentage to a career-low 58.7 per cent.

The Wells Fargo Center saw an odd incident develop when Sixers big man Montrezl Harrell objected to an opponent returning to the court after the final buzzer.

When Harrell and Jason Love of the 76ers entered the court, Antetokounmpo was shooting free throws. Harrell took the ball as he moved in the direction of the basket and did not hand it back to Antetokounmpo.

“This isn’t f— Milwaukee,” Harrell told Antetokounmpo, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. “Get that s— out of there.”

According to Vardon, Love warned Antetokounmpo that he couldn’t shoot after the game while standing between him and Harrell.

Then, Antetokounmpo departed to finish his shooting drill while obtaining additional basketballs. But when he returned to the basket, he discovered that someone from the Wells Fargo Center had erected a ladder in front of the rim. Vardon claims that Antetkounmpo repeatedly urged the worker to relocate the ladder, but the worker consistently refused.

In a fit of rage, Antetokounmpo pushed the ladder out of the way.

While shooting at the other end of the court, Harrell told Antetokounmpo, “Yeah, I took the ball, get the f— outta here,” according to Vardon. “I’m doing my f—ing job,” Antetokounmpo replied. When Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis’ brother and Bucks teammate, attempted to speak to Harrell after Giannis had left the floor, Harrell threatened Thanasis, saying, “I’ll beat your ass” and “You better send that s— back to the locker room,” per Vardon. Thanasis walked away from Harrell without incident.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Spoke To The Media

Antetokounmpo spoke to reporters more than an hour after the game had ended, saying that he has “never tried to disrespect anyone in any way, shape or form.”

“I respect every player,” Antetokounmpo said (via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps). “I know some players don’t play now, they want to get some extra work, want to work on their skills and stuff, and I said. Obviously, we can shoot together. They said they told me no, this is their court, I should leave.

“I was like, I have three more free throws, I was at seven, I want to try to make 10 in a row. I shot my eighth one. Came and took the ball away from me and I was very surprised. I feel like it’s very unprofessional. I would never take the ball away from a professional athlete when he’s trying to do his job.”

He added that he didn’t mean to knock the ladder down and didn’t feel the need to apologise because it was “my right for me to work on my skills after a horrible night at the free throw line.”

Montrezl Harrell’s Response

Harrell sent out a tweet early Saturday morning addressing the postgame altercation.

“Aye make sure you get the complete story,” Harrell said. “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!”

 

 

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