Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo argued with an arena worker and flung a ladder away from a basket, sending it toppling over as he tried to shoot practice free throws after the Bucks’ 110-102 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.
After going 4-for-15 from the free-throw line, Antetokounmpo returned to the Wells Fargo Centre floor several minutes after the game ended to shoot free throws with a small number of fans still in the building.
Antetokounmpo proceeded to miss his first five foul shots in the postgame practice. During a break in the two-time NBA MVP’s shooting, arena workers moved onto the court for their usual postgame activities.
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One of the workers set up a 3.65m ladder next to the basket where Antetokounmpo was shooting. Antetokounmpo walked up to the ladder and moved it out of the way.
The employee moved it back in place, much to the ire of Antetokounmpo. He approached the staffer, had a quick, heated verbal exchange, and then moved the ladder away again, sending it crashing to the floor.
Word spread quickly through the Wells Fargo Centre and 76ers backup centre Montrezl Harrell, who was still on the other end of the court talking to a group of individuals, including some 76ers staffers, started to walk toward Antetokounmpo, shouting at him for mistreating the arena employee.
Harrell never made it past half court, as team employees were able to get him to turn around and head to the Philadelphia locker room.
Joel Embiid had 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and the short-handed 76ers overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Bucks.
Embiid, who averaged 40 points and 11 rebounds in his previous four games, had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the second half after 76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey left just before halftime with a left foot injury.
“He’s so good right now,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said about Embiid.
“Down the stretch, the game slowed down so much for him. We told him exactly what we wanted him to do in the last six minutes and he was terrific.”
Maxey had 24 points, five assists and four rebounds before rolling his ankle while driving to the basket against Jevon Carter. Philadelphia said he will have an MRI Saturday. Rivers added that Maxey was already wearing a walking boot after the game.
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