Having made just 4-of-15 free throw attempts in an eight-point loss in Philadelphia on Friday night, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo came back out onto the Wells Fargo Center court after the game, hoping to make 10 shots in a row from the foul line before calling it a night.
However, as detailed in reports from Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Joe Vardon of The Athletic, and Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, after Antetokounmpo had made seven consecutive free throws, Sixers big man Montrezl Harrell came and took the ball away on Giannis’ eighth attempt. Harrell and Sixers player development coach Jason Love refused to give the ball back to Antetokounmpo, who wanted to finish his shooting routine and reportedly told Harrell that there was room for both players to shoot.
“This isn’t f—ing Milwaukee,” Harrell shouted at Antetokounmpo, according to The Athletic. “Get that s–t out of there.”
Unable to get the ball back from Harrell and Love, Antetokounmpo left the court and returned with two new balls to continue shooting free throws. By that point, however, Sixers arena workers had positioned a large ladder in front of the basket Giannis had been using. When the staffers refused to move the ladder out of the way, Antetokounmpo tried to shove it aside and ended up knocking it over, as captured in a Twitter video.
Antetokounmpo ultimately did finish his foul shooting while Harrell worked out at the other end of the court and continued to shout at him. Once Giannis left the court for good, his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo came out and spoke to Harrell, according to Vardon, who says Harrell told Thanasis, “I’ll beat your a–“ and “You better send that s–t back to the locker room.”
Harrell, believed to be upset that Giannis was preventing him from doing his own on-court postgame work on the 76ers’ home court, left without speaking to reporters. Giannis – described by both Vardon and Owczarski as “agitated” – discussed the incident at length.
“Obviously I had a very bad night from the free throw line,” Antetokounmpo said, per Owczarksi. “Now, I take pride in getting better every single day. After the game I decided to go try and make some free throws. My goal, every time I step on the line is to make 10 in a row and I was shooting free throws. I was at seven, I think. A player, I don’t want to mention names, and a coach, basically told me to leave the court, while behind me there was another space to do their routine.
“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 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.”
Harrell did post a tweet late on Friday night, briefly explaining his side of the interaction: “Aye make sure you get the complete story 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!”
As for the video that showed him pushing down the ladder that arena staffers had put in front of the basket, Giannis said he wasn’t trying to disrespect anyone.
“Did I meant to push the ladder all the way down? I totally did not. I think I pushed it and it got caught and fell,” Antetokounmpo said. “But people are going to make it look the way they want it to look. I know what happened.
“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 from 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.”
It’s unclear at this point whether or not any of the players involved in the postgame incident will be fined by the NBA.
Milwaukee is very lucky to have a player like Giannis!
Except when he has to make a free throw.
Dude made 15/19 to win Game 6 of the Finals. Shut up.
Amen Brother!
Take his ben Simmons free throw shooting back to his house.
He gets plenty of charity from the line though, that’s for certain…
What is Montrezz gonna do? He had people there to hold him back. Fake tough guy. I’m not a big GA fan, but this is weak. Philly tries to act tonight but they are not.
Fake tough guy? Why bc Gianni’s was completely disrespectful towards an arena worker doing his job? If anything Montrezl deserves all the respect for standing up for the arena worker. Defending Gianni’s makes you a clown.
???? If you read the article Harrell was the one being disrespectful. Let the guy shoot the ball. the arena worker blocked off the court to appease Harrell.
Yeah, it’s not like Giannis was dancing on their logo or something. If he wants to spend two minutes shooting free throws, let him! That’s the spirit we need in today’s NBA, not people complaining about being benched for shooting 1-15 or people getting mad because a ref didn’t call a foul for flopping.
Not in our house!
Thanasis definitely should have socked that all-talk scrub for threatening him.
I saw the videos and saw no comfortable chattter/negotiation. It was talk trash and just bully Giannis in leaving. I get it, not his hometown, but a Sr employee could’ve provided and more amicable outcome
Sixers fans and employees are just bitter from all the times he’s destroyed them in recent years and how he got a chip but they still haven’t made it out of the second round. Classic clown show.
Plenty of fake tough guys in the NBA, but Harrell absolutely is not one of them.
Trezz is a wanna be tough guy- nobody.
Let’s be honest. There’s a reason he doesn’t stick with any team.
Dudes a clown.
Thanasis should have swung on him anyway
Cuz he’s probably high!
Would have taken less than a minute for Giannis to shoot those last two shots. Harrell is a childish idiot, fits right in with the Sixers.
OR Giannis can be respectful of the workers in the arena who were working late to change the floor, but mr entitled couldn’t be respectful and get his a** off the floor so they could get their work done and go home to their families.
I don’t think you even bothered to read the article. Giannis was annoyed by Harrell, resulting in him returning to the locker room for an unknown amount of time. Then when he Came back, that’s when the workers were there and Giannis asked them to move. You’re just a giannis hater
Actually I’ve read about it plenty and Giannis shouldn’t have been out there to begin with.
“shouldnt have been there to begin with”
he just played a game on the court a few moments before this occurred. seems reasonable he’d go back out and take 5 minutes to do 10 free throws for practice since he’s already there.
Your reading comprehension skills aren’t very good.
But yeah keep riding his jock
Giannis would have been done in less than a minute. Instead, Harrell went off like a childish idiot causing everyone to be on the court way longer than they would have been if Harrell hadn’t thrown a tantrum. Only one here being disrespectful is Harrell.
You realize none of that happens if Harrell and the coach weren’t being weird and petty. I think GA deserves the benefit of the doubt with the ladder thing, he’s been nothing but respectful his entire career and there’s literally zero reason for Harrell to not just let him finish. I don’t even care about either team and I liked Harrell when he was on the Lakers but seriously who takes another man’s ball and walks away, that’s like something kids would do.
Exactly!
Hey Trezz! How many times was Giannis arrested with enough drugs to qualify for “intent to deliver”?
Giannis is the epitome of what is right in the NBA for a decade. Who dis Trezz dude anyway?
Haters gonna hate. Envy is ugly!
This is why we love sports … people like M.H. who at times are even less mature than we are.
Giannis should have done what everyone does for a court.. challenged him 1v1 for the court..no way Harrell wins lol
I’d actually love to see Giannis absolutely work over Trezz in a 1v1…I think everyone in the NBA would, including some of Trezz’s teammates.
Trez pulling his best local park bully”this is my court you’re no allowed to play”.
Fair play to Giannis not escalating the situation with Harrell and just leaving to get another ball. The ladder thing looked like the staff trolling him more than trying to do their job.(however they may have been worried about being there til next week if Giannis has to make 10x FTs!!)
People talking about disrespect stopping people doing their job…. What was Harrell doing then? He was in the court after Giannis left, and Giannis offered to share the basket he was at first.
Whatever with Giannis, but Thanasis should have slapped the taste out of his mouth for saying what he said to him.
Giannis is a clown
You’re either clueless, xenophobic, or both.
You’re looking in a mirror, friend. Only clown here is you.
Plenty more clowns around.
Trez is a dope and an embarrassment.
So Harrell delays Giannis from finishing his shooting, then claims he was actually trying to help the arena workers…stays out there himself with an assistant coach after Giannis does leave for good…his time-line doesn’t add up.
I don’t care for Giannis on the court, during games, but I seriously doubt his first bas boy act off it is going to be dumping a ladder so he can shoot a few more free throws.
Take that crap to Milwaukee! Why should arena workers have to wait to him, they got homes to go too as well…why should Trez have to give up his/our court that was open. Once again not in our house…no one likes us, we don’t care!
Philly arena workers – we don’t want to wait 5 minutes for GA!
Also Philly arena workers – we will wait till Montrez finishes his post game workout.
Pick one.
PP69- if this situation occurred in MKE with Embiid or Harden wanting court time after a game and Portis getting in their face you’d want him suspended. I don’t give a rat’s rear end 1 way or the other about anything or anyone with, from, or living in Philly. It was unnecessary by Harrell to do anything, but the article suggests he initiated the whole thing. Then he claims it was all about helping the arena workers, when he was still on the court well after Giannis left. At least he could give a logical explanation for his actions
Not me bro, I’m not a snowflake. I believe in defending your turf. + we have a b2b today, Trez needed the reps not the freak who could have waited till he was home. I do believe pushing/shoving a ladder with innocent bystanders and employees around is the biggest offense here. But sure blame Philly…but we don’t care lol
“Innocent bystanders” those manbabies wouldn’t let the man shoot free throws on their court.
Meanwhile Embiid does it on the road and no one bugs him. You can’t have it both ways, Process snowflakes.
Shut up, PhillyPhan.
I’m not blaming Philly jackwagon, I’m blaming Harrell for pretending he owns the arena and he decides who can do what.
And why does a guy who doesn’t play need extra work in between b2b games anyway? Oh wait, cuz its the only time he can actually get on the court.
Speak the truth brother.
Defending your turf from 3 free throws being shot? Wow, you’re as easily triggered as Harrell. Harrell and Love should be fined by the league. Apparently they have neither the class or enough brain cells to figure out how to respect their fellow man. All three of you are snowflakes.
Thanasis should have swung on Harrell for saying that garbage to him.
Your house where Giannis sat on the floor once and you all had a hissy fit. How many rings you guys won? You do not want this smoke.
Gianna is always the victim. Watch the video.
Read the article you’re commenting on. The video doesn’t tell the whole story.
I prefer my eyes over some knuckleheads interpretation
Harrell fits in perfectly with Philly.
What a tool.
I love how Giannis (not-so) subtly pointed out that Harrell was on the court following the game because, well, Harrell is one of those “players [who] don’t play now, [so] they want to get some extra work … “ (read: Montrezl, you’re a f***ing scrub). Hilarious.
Why would the league fine anyone about this nothingburger?
Likely because there is a video of part of the incident all the soap opera addicts feel entitled to an opinion. The media love how frothed up everyone gets, but NBA has to take these potential reputation hits seriously, even when it is a nothingburger, because they are entertainment and sentiment factors into purchasing/consumption decisions.
Some folks only accept video as evidence now (video or it didn’t happen). There is also a growing deficit of critical thinking skills as well as poor information literacy and media literacy, with people falling for and easily manipulated by misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.
If it was just two guys shouting at one another after the game, I doubt they would. But I suspect the NBA will frown on the video of Giannis pushing over the ladder — even if it was unintentional and no one got hurt, it isn’t a great look for a player to be involved in that sort of thing with arena staffers. (And if they fine Giannis, Harrell may also get hit for his part in the incident).
To me, a fine for ladder abuse would be ridiculous. But I guess you never know.
Sounds like Philly is not an arena where you practice free throws after a bad game shooting free-throws. This sounds pretty cut & dry. I don’t know the normalcy of this practice for visitors on another teams’ home floor after the game, but I’d have left of I was GA. Seems like the respectful thing to do in that situation. Harrell has had a tough year, let alone a tough game from the charity stripe, he needs the practice more from my perspective.
There’s a reason Philly is called “the City of Brotherly Love”
Sounds like a bunch of entitled baby’s like every other NBA player grow up already damn
it wasn’t his home court. It might of been petty by Trezz but it’s HIS HOME COURT. I’m sure they have to have another rim somewhere in the arena, go use that one. if this was in Milwaukee then I would say Giannis was in the right
Sixers got a b2b tonight. Why should Trez have to give up the court. It’s our house and we have a short turn around game tonight. Let him go back to Milwaukee and practice free throws
Give up the court? There’s TWO baskets lmao. And if he wanted the whole court GA was almost finished. Wasn’t going to hurt him to wait 2 minutes. What could he have done for 2 minutes? Stretch. Worked on his own free throws. Mr. 63% and 66% life time could have used some FT practice too.
What does home court have to do with anything lmao.
Seems like youre reaching for a reason, reaching pretty hard.
It’s after the game. 5 minutes worth of free throws and already shot 7. Doing 3 more would take maybe 2 minutes if that.
Home court has nothing to do with this situation.
I read the Athletic story, so petty lol. These guys are grown men..
The only petty guy here is Harrell.
“tRuSt tHe pRoCEsS” – how about we fold the worthless 76ers instead
Bro just chill for once.
Harrell is a clown, he must be expelled from the league… and PHI looked horrible!!!
Fire the coach, another tool!
Next time they play Philly. How much does Giannis goes for. And I pray Harrell gets mins on him. I’ll be waiting for that. New Poster coming
Did Harrell even play that night?
Whole thing is ridiculous.
I believe Phillys practice facility isn’t in the arena, so MH wanted to get extra work in because he only played 6 min. After the games they only get a certain amount of time to workout(etc) before the staff takes down the nets. I get where MH is coming from. Yes he was a tool about it , but there would have been no way he would have been able to workout in miluwakee after a game. GA should have respected that and let him get some work in.
So, it’s cool that Harrell tried being a grumpy old man telling Giannis to get off his [lawn] court because..hmm, Harrell wouldn’t be able to work out in MKE after a game..?
First, maybe whichever Bucks players might have wanted to get in some extra work after a game wouldn’t pull that stunt and try to bully him off the court.
Second, if the Sixers have a separate practice facility besides the arena where they play games, why couldn’t he just go there? I’m sure members of the coaching staff have keys or code to get in.
Third, why not just ask Giannis how much longer he plans to be out there, and mention that the workers need to get busy, instead of taking the ball and refusing to let him finish? Save the tough guy routine for games..if he actually gets in one long enough..when an opponent gets, well, like him..towards 1 of his teammates.
I haven’t seen what actually happened with the ladder, and I’m not even going to try and excuse it, but if MonTool doesn’t initiate the whole thing, that never happens.
So you mean to tell me you expect montrez to take a shower, get in his car , drive to the practice facility, workout, then take another shower ? You see how inconvenient that is ? He shouldn’t have to ask Giannis anything it’s his home court tf. Like I said there is only a certain amount of time where you can workout after games. That is why he acted the way he did. Not saying it’s right , but these guys are professionals. Dude was literally 6man of the year a few years ago about to get a huge payday. Now he is barely getting 10 min. Sometimes we forget that these dudes have families to feed.
I can’t believe all the clueless people in here…
Harrell has his own postgame routine. He wanted to put in his work, while allowing employees to begin the turnover on the other side of the court. It’s his court. If he doesn’t want to share the open end of the court with Giannis, that’s his right. People in here saying, “What hypocrite… Saying he’s looking out for the workers than doing his own thing!” Ya’ll clearly don’t read and comprehend the details. They can turnover one end of the court while the other is open and leave one open. Harrell didn’t want to, and shouldn’t have to, share the open end on his home court with Giannis. And as far as the employees with the ladder… That’s their job. For all they know, Giannis left the court and they wanted to do what they had to in order to get done. He had no right touching that ladder. Your night is over, go home.
Somebody stole Trezz’s stash.