The NBA world witnessed one of the ugliest brawls of the season during the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. The brawl broke out when Sacramento Kings’ forward Trey Lyles fouled Giannis Antetokounmpo during the final seconds of the game. Following the foul, 7ft Bucks star Brook Lopez engaged in a physical altercation with Lyles. The officials ejected both players from the game. However, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar channeled his inner Michael Jordan following the incident.
The NBA world has witnessed various controversial moments, both on and off the court this year, such as the Ja Morant gun controversy and a series of on-court altercations. Even though the Lopez-Lyles altercation isn’t any different from other brawls, Greek Freak’s gesture following the fine showed true leadership.
Giannis followed in the footsteps of Michael Jordan
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Giannis Antetokounmpo looked visibly upset during the fight as he nodded his head in disbelief. He considered Brook Lopez’s impulse to stand up for his teammate and addressed the press with a bold statement. He said, “Definitely going to pay for [Brook Lopez] techs.”
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Antetokounmpo’s gesture reminded the NBA world of the infamous Chicago Bulls-Detroit Pistons brawl in 1988. During a heated contest between the Pistons and Bulls, Pistons’ Rick Mahorn threw MJ to the floor after hooking around his neck.
Following the act, Jordan’s loyal teammates went up against Mahorn, resulting in a massive brawl.
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The league slapped fines for four Bulls players and their coach Doug Collins. Jordan, being a team player, bore the fine. He said, “It’s my way of showing my gratitude for them really stepping up for something I believed in.” Decades after that incident, Greek Freak’s statement took fans back in time.
Lopez and Lyles had to be separated
In the fourth quarter, with less than 15 seconds left in the game, the Bucks were eyeing a comfortable win. In an unexpected turn of events, Trey Lyles disrespectfully pushed Giannis while defending. Brook Lopez immediately confronted Lyles, which eventually resulted in a brawl. The staff and players rushed to separate the players, and the refs ejected both from the game.
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What do you make of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s gesture toward his teammate? Let us know in the comments below.