By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo made history with a 64-point game in a Milwaukee Bucks win against the Indiana Pacers, breaking the franchise record and, of course, achieving a career-high.
After the performance for the ages, he was determined to get the game ball as a reminder of one of his greatest individual outings in the NBA, but problems occurred.
Apparently, Indiana Pacers players refused to give him the game ball, which got Giannis heated. He rushed to the locker room to confront the opponent and even got into a verbal argument with Tyrees Haliburton.
Eventually, he got himself a ball, but was it the one from his historic game?
“I have no idea. I have the ball, but it doesn’t feel like a game ball to me; it feels like a brand new ball. I can tell. I played 35 minutes; I know how the game ball felt. The ball that I have, I’ll take it and give it to my mom, but I don’t think it’s actually the game ball. But it’s okay. I don’t either have the game ball from Game 6 of the NBA finals,” Giannis said at the postgame press conference.
Giannis wanted the ball of his record game, Pacers not giving it uppic.twitter.com/N7D32kHFSz
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 14, 2023
He admitted he even wanted to give the ball to Damian Lillard for surpassing Kyle Korver in total three-pointers for 5th of all time.
“I knew they had the ball. I don’t know how it works, but I assume I can’t just walk into any arena and take the ball. At the end of the day, the ball that they gave us, I offered it to Dame, who scored 60 multiple times, scored 70, and should have the ball. At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s fair. I understand, but we are talking about a guy who skipped Kyle Korver in the all-time list, and I felt like we should all stop what we are doing and appreciate greatness,” Antetokounpo added and joked: “I’m chasing him; I’m 2,000 threes away.”
About his career-high… When did he realize he’s on the brink of history?
“There wasn’t a moment when I thought I was going to score 60…I just tried to play the game. There were a lot of moments where I was able to take advantage of the defense and the way they were guarding me, make plays for myself and my teammates. I was able to go to the free-throw line, knock a few of those in. Just a play at a time.”
Eventually, Giannis took down Michael Redd’s Bucks record of 57 points.
“I usually don’t think about that stuff because it just adds pressure for no reason. I wasn’t trying to chase and break his record; I just tried to be the best version of myself. Coach Griffin told me that I’m two points off a franchise record, but I said I’m good. Never been in that position before, decided to try and get it, and I was hopefully in the position to do it. It’s a great feeling, but it’s done now. Hopefully, I’ll be able to create moments like that in the future and keep making my team great.”