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[SleepingHero]

Man...I have gotten flack for criticizing Giannis' game in the past...but I truly do like the person.  Seems like a genuinely good dude.

But damn that ladder situation is so on him.  Its just overboard having to shoot free throws AFTER a game.  I get it...perception is everything.  But this is going overboard.  Its unnecessary unless you are trying to win "good guy" points.  Its Tim Teebow territory as far as cringe.

The whole situation should never have happened.   Just go to a 24 hour fitness and shoot free throws where no one is around and working and you dont have people "hating" you like me claiming this was a stunt to win "good guy" points.   Just go practice on your own somewhere.

I don't think I agree with you here. Why can't Giannis shoot FT's in the arena after the game? Why is it cringe that a player actually understands playing basketball is his job and he decided to get some extra work in?

An excerpt of the Athletic describing the story and the altercation between Harrell and Giannis:

 https://theathletic.com/3912361/2022/11/19/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-montrezl-harrell-altercation/

PHILADELPHIA – A bizarre scene unfolded inside Wells Fargo Center on Friday night after the 76ers’ 110-102 win over the Bucks, in which Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetkounmpo tried to shoot extra foul shots after a terrible game and an opposing player interrupted by taking the ball and refusing to give it back.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, was a dismal 4-of-15 from the charity stripe during the game, which was the worst performance from the line of his career. He returned to the court as the 19,769 fans were filing out, and, after some trouble finding a ball to shoot, took seven practice free throws and made them all.

That’s when things got weird. Sixers bench player Montrezl Harrell came over to where Giannis was shooting, took the ball and stood in the corner.

“This isn’t f—— Milwaukee,” Harrell barked at Antetokounmpo, as witnessed by The Athletic. “Get that s— out of there.”

Antetokounmpo, according to witnesses, offered to Harrell to join him in the shooting drill, and when he wouldn’t, pleaded for the return of the ball. A Sixers’ staff member who had accompanied Harrell, skills coach Jordan Love, then stood between the two players and told Antetokounmpo he could not have the ball back, and could not shoot on the court.

Antetokounmpo left the court and returned with two basketballs. Only when he came back, a Wells Fargo Center employee pushed a large, A-frame ladder in front of the hoop where Giannis was shooting. Antetokounmpo asked the man to move the ladder so he could finish his shooting, and twice the man said no.

Now angry at the surprising circumstances he was facing, Giannis attempted to push the ladder out of the way, and it tipped over, crashing onto the court.

As Antetokounmpo took a few more practice shots, Harrell was at the other end of the court, shooting and screaming back toward the Bucks’ side.

“Yeah I took the ball, get the f— outta here,” Harrell said, as Giannis shouted from his end: “I’m doing my f—— job.”

Antetokounmpo left the court for good, but his brother, Milwaukee teammate Thanasis Antetokounmpo, walked to midcourt to speak to Harrell. The Sixers’ reserve center threatened Thanasis, saying at separate times “I’ll beat your a–” and “you better send that s— back to the locker room.”

“I never try to disrespect anyone, in any way shape or form. I feel like today was just unfortunate event that took place,” Giannis said, an hour after the incident. “I think people did not respect the fact that sometimes players want to get some extra work in. It might be three, five, seven, whatever the case may be. I think it’s unprofessional to kick somebody off the court or take the ball or whatever the case might be. Or put the ladder in front of somebody while he’s trying to do his job. We get paid to do this. They didn’t just pick us. We get paid.”