“I Don’t Value That”: Ex-Pacers Star Paul George Refrains From Imitating Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Game Ball Drama

On Wednesday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his career-high 64 points during the 140-126 winning game against the Indiana Pacers. On the other side of the court was also the Pacers’ rookie Oscar Tshiebwe, who had achieved a similar feat, scoring his career-high. As a customary celebration, the Pacers took the ball to their locker room after the game for their rookie.

Giannis wasn’t having any of it and dashed to the Pacers’ locker room to retrieve the ball for himself, causing quite a stir in the arena. Paul George, Clippers star and a former Pacer, in his show Podcast P With Paul George, shares his thoughts on the interesting event.

Can’t say Giannis overreacted

Paul says that he isn’t the best person to make a judgment on Giannis’ actions, because he does not value the tradition of keeping the game ball. “I can’t say he overreacted…. maybe he values that, I don’t value that,” PG13 says. Further, he adds that keeping the memorabilia is a rookie’s thing, with the Clippers having done the same for their rookies like Kobe Brown and Jordan Miller, who were both drafted this season.

However, PG does say that “The home team gets that ball“, and that the Pacers, being the visitors in that game, did not have the right to take it with them. So under those circumstances, he understands Giannis’ grounds and says that what he did was understandable, and not over the top. Despite getting the ball, Giannis was still unhappy about something.

Giannis wasn’t convinced that it was the same ball

The former MVP’s attempt to get the ball was aided by the Pacers’ security who presented him with the ball, but Giannis wasn’t impressed. During the postgame interview, he tells reporters, “I have the ball but I don’t know if it’s the game ball. It doesn’t feel like the game ball to me. It feel like a brand new ball.” Giannis is convinced that the ball is completely different from the one they played with.

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The real shocker, however, is when Giannis says, “I don’t even have the game ball from, which hurts me, I don’t have the game ball from Game 6 in the NBA Finals.” Nonetheless, as for the ball that he did get on Wednesday, Giannis says that he will give it to his mother as a token of love. Although he is still not convinced about the authenticity of the ball he says, “But it’s okay. Lives continue.”

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Do you think Giannis overreacted about not getting the ball after the game? Or was his action justified? Share your thoughts!