Why did the big man Antetokounmpo invade the opposing team's locker room?
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association is close to 213 cm tall and runs like a guard. He had the opportunity to use this ability even after the game was over. After the home game against the Indiana Pacers on the 14th, Antetokounmpo ran toward the Pacers locker room with all his might. Pacers players responded to Antetokounmpo by saying, “Keep the ball” and “Never lose it.”
Antetokounmpo scored 64 points on this day, becoming the player with the most points in a game in the club's 55-year history. The Bucks won 140-126 with him in the lead. Antetokounmpo wanted to keep the ball used in the historic game. But even when he looked around, he couldn't see the ball. He was later told that the Pacers had taken the ball, and he ran into the hallway in front of the locker room to retrieve it. Here, players from the Bucks and Pacers got tangled up and a rough argument broke out.
The Pacers explained that they took the ball to congratulate rookie Oscar Chibwe (24, Congo), who scored in his NBA debut that day. It is said that a fight broke out in the locker room. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, “Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan was injured in the ribs after being hit by a player’s elbow,” and added, “We took a spare ball that was not used in the game.”
After hearing this explanation, Antetokounmpo received the ball belatedly from a Bucks official, but said, “I touched the ball throughout today’s game. No matter how you look at the ball I received, it feels like a reserve ball.” Center Shaquille O'Neal (51, retired), who dominated the 2000s, took Antetokounmpo's side. He said, “Players can tell when they touch the ball. “The actual game credit should go to Antetokounmpo.” Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban supported the Pacers, saying, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a rookie to score for the first time in the NBA.”