Bucks’ Giannis Explains Confrontation With 76ers Arena Workers On Court After Loss

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Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo called his postgame confrontation with Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell and a Wells Fargo Center employee Friday an “unfortunate event.”

Antetokounmpo was trying to shoot free throws after the Bucks’ 110-102 road loss when Harrell—who wanted to get his own work in—took the ball from Giannis, who was trying to make 10 free throws in a row after a poor performance from the line (4-of-15) in the loss.

When Antetokounmpo retrieved two more balls to continue shooting, an employee with a ladder began trying to work on the court, which led the two-time NBA MVP to push the ladder aside.

Antetokounmpo told reporters:

“I respect every player. 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: “I’ve never tried to disrespect anyone in any way, shape or form. I feel like today is just an unfortunate event that took place.”

Harrell explained his side of the story in a Twitter post:

The Sixers were playing the front end of a back-to-back situation. They host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night.

Antetokounmpo argued his interaction with the arena worker and the ladder was taken a little out of context based on the entire sequence of events, saying he asked to take a few more free throws and was repeatedly denied the opportunity.

“At the end of the day, people are going to make things look the way they want it to look,” Giannis said. “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.”

The six-time All-Star added “everybody knows my character,” and noted he felt an opportunity to work on his game should have been allowed.

He also said: “I don’t know if I should apologize because I don’t feel like I did anything wrong, except the ladder just fell. 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.”

His free-throw struggles have been consistent in the early stages of the 2022-23 season. He’s shooting 58.7 percent from the line, which is the worst mark of his career, and the issue is compounded by the fact that he’s attempting a career-high 12.9 free throws per game.

The Bucks return to Milwaukee for a four-game homestand beginning Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Antetokounmpo should meet far less resistance while trying to get some extra shots up inside Fiserv Forum.