PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Giannis Antetokounmpo gave a whole new meaning to sitting courtside.
Although a likable foe, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar apparently upset Sixers fans and backup center Dwight Howard Wednesday night with his overtime celebration.
Following two of his 10 points of overtime, Antetokounmpo ran back to the other end of the court and sat on the floor, drawing boos from the limited crowd.
“I wanted to go and Stone Cold Stunner him,” Howard quipped after the game, “but I already got one (technical foul).
“It’s basketball. He wanted to have fun. We’ll see these guys again. We don’t want to make a big scene about what he did.”
Howard brushed it off and even commended Antetokounmpo for his 32-point performance — 28 of which came after halftime.
“He had a great game, so I’m not one to talk trash or say anything negative, but we’ll see them again and it’ll be a different result,” Howard said.
Antetokounmpo didn’t see his “demonstration” as disrespectful.
“Is there something wrong with having fun?” he asked after the game.
Wednesday was the first matchup this season between the Sixers and Bucks — two of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference. Two more games are scheduled in the regular season, both in Milwaukee, on April 22 and 24.
The Sixers did not have MVP Joel Embiid in the first meeting because of a left knee bone bruise. The Sixers were clearly tired down the stretch, being that this was night two of a back-to-back. Having Embiid would have helped hold off Milwaukee, which erased a 19-point deficit.
The Bucks ultimately won in overtime 109-105.
So until the next time these two teams meet, Philly fans will have to deal with Antetokounmpo fumbling over the correct way to order his postgame cheesesteak: