MILWAUKEE – Jaylen Brown believed Giannis Antetokounmpo acted like a kid Sunday. And Antetokounmpo said he would do it again if given the opportunity.
Early in the second quarter of a 113-107 Celtics win against the Bucks, Antetokounmpo picked up an offensive foul for elbowing Brown in the face on a post move. After the play, Antetokounmpo held out his hand as if to high-five Brown, but pulled back his arm at the last moment like an uncle might do to a niece or nephew.
Giannis Antetokounmpo trolled Jaylen Brown mid-game 😭
🎥 @FanDuelSN_WI | @NBApic.twitter.com/M8yHxCQH4f
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) November 10, 2024
“Giannis is a child,” Brown said after the game. “I’m just focused on helping my team get a win. And that’s what we did tonight.”
When told that Brown took offense to Antetokounmpo’s practical joke, the Bucks forward was surprised.
“Obviously, it’s a joke,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’re playing basketball, but at the same time, you gotta have fun while playing. I think he’s an incredible player. He does whatever he can to help his team win. Extremely competitive player. We’ve played against one another many times.
“We always — I think — we always joke around within the flow of the game. It’s something I do with my kids. I play around. ‘Oh, give me a high five. Ope, you’re too slow.’ I just did it. I enjoyed it though. It was fun.”
With 6:52 left in a tie game, Brown received a flagrant foul after knocking Antetokounmpo to the court while he was driving for a shot attempt. Brown said he did not have the earlier incident between the two players in mind when he hit Antetokounmpo with the hard foul.
“Just playing basketball,” said Brown, who scored 14 points in 37 minutes in his first game back after missing four contests with a left hip flexor strain.
Jaylen Brown called for flagrant foul on Giannis 🚨 pic.twitter.com/kLkyklZCXH
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 10, 2024
Antetokounmpo’s two free throws after the flagrant foul put Milwaukee ahead 97-95, but the Celtics scored the next six points to take a lead they never relinquished. The loss dropped the Bucks to 2-8 this season and occurred despite Antetokounmpo scoring a season-high 43 points.
After Antetokounmpo was initially informed of Brown taking offense to his joke, he asked for clarification from reporters.
“Oh, that’s what he said? Dang,” Antetokounmpo said, when informed of Brown’s comment. “He said that I was a child? I thought I gave him a compliment and he was just going at me. But at the same time, this is who I am. I play the game with fun, joy.”
The two-time MVP then said he might try to play a practical joke again if he gets the chance another time.
“I’m just going to continue to be me and at the end of the day, if I’m called a child, so be it,” Antetokounmpo said. “I have three children of my own. I have six nieces. I take care of a lot of kids around here, so sometimes when you’re around a kid, you try to act like it.
It’s fun. It’s fun to be around them. I just like to go out there and have fun, but again, great player, great competitor. If I have another opportunity, I’ll do it again.”
(Top photo: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images)
