Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks got embarrassed on their home floor on Tuesday as they were walloped by the Minnesota Timberwolves, 139-106.
The Bucks still failed to win even though the Timberwolves were already severely handicapped without Anthony Edwards, who was out with a foot injury, and Rudy Gobert, who was serving a one-game suspension.
Their lackluster effort was unforgivable for the fans at Fiserv Forum, showering the Bucks, who fell to 17-23, with boos heading into halftime. Giannis scored the first basket of the third quarter and then booed the fans back after getting knocked to the ground.
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After the game, Antetokounmpo said “whenever I get booed, I boo back,” per ESPN's Jamal Collier. The Bucks star has done this on the road this season, but this time it was to his own home fans.
“It doesn't matter,” Antetokounmpo said about being at home. “I play basketball for my teammates. I play basketball for myself and my family. When people don't believe in me, I don't tend to be with them. I tend to do what I'm here to do, what I'm good at. … It won't change home or away. But yeah, I've never been a part of something like that before and I don't think it's fair. I don't. But everybody has their opinion to do what they want to do.
“I'm not going to tell them what to do and how they should act when we don't play hard. Or when we lose games, or when we're not where we're supposed to be. I don't think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on [a] basketball court after I've been here 13 years. And I'm basically the all-time leader in everything.”
Giannis wasn't done.
“I've never been a part (of it). Do I? Have I? I don't think so. It's kind of new for me. It doesn't change. It's the same thing. It doesn't matter. I thrive through adversity. I thrive when people don't believe in me. Doesn't matter if I'm on the road, if I'm at home, if I'm at my family dinner, or if I'm at the practice facility with my teammates. It doesn't really matter,” said the two-time MVP.
“So, yeah, I've never been a part of something like that before, so it was something new for me. I like it though. I love it.”
Antetokounmpo, who's the subject of trade rumors, finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. He also had a game-high seven turnovers.
It might be prudent for the nine-time All-Star to be more accountable instead of merely dismissing the fans' reaction. After all, he has often credited them for his success.
The Bucks are spiraling, and perhaps, some noise doesn't need to be entirely tuned out.
