Imagine scoring over one-third of your team’s total points, and it amounts to nothing. That’s exactly what Giannis Antetokounmpo must be feeling after the Milwaukee Bucks’ recent 117-98 loss against the Indiana Pacers, despite the Greek Freak’s double-double domination that included 36 points and 12 rebounds. While his exceptional performance might’ve failed to secure a win for the Bucks in Game 1 of the playoffs’ first round, it seems to have eliminated a long-standing hate of sorts. The irony is palpable: Turner’s praise arrives not after a Bucks victory but after an individually stellar performance by Giannis in a losing effort, perhaps highlighting the undeniable force of his statistical dominance.

Yep, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo averaging 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists for the last 3 consecutive seasons, there has been a constant critic of the 6 ft 11 star. The player in discussion is former Boston Celtics star Evan Turner. The Celtics-Bucks rivalry has often been intense, and Turner’s past criticisms may have been fueled, at least in part, by this competitive animosity.

“I gotta apologize once again for all the Giannis hate that I’ve bestowed upon the world in the past… Idk what I was thinking… Buddy is dominant,” Turner wrote. Well, there is no telling what made Turner have a change of heart because Giannis has been dropping such dominating numbers for quite some time now. In fact, ever since the 2018 season, the Greek Freak has not averaged below 25 points or below 10 rebounds in a season. Turner’s use of “hate” suggests his criticism wasn’t just mild disagreement but perhaps a more vehement opposition to Giannis’ game or persona.

Still, the ex-Celtics star came down heavily on Antetokounmpo every chance he got. And his praise for the 2021 NBA champ had a hint of criticism. “I saw Giannis last night and Buddy kept it player and showed me a lot through his speech (pause) and confidence in who he is. Buddy actually got a championship mindset, you can see why he’s successful. I still don’t have him in my top 5, but I can respect greatness,” he said in December 2023. This carefully worded praise, punctuated by the “still don’t have him in my top 5,” reveals a grudging respect, acknowledging Giannis’ achievements while stopping short of a full endorsement.

Each to its own, but still the last part of the X post felt uncalled for. This was, however, still quite mild compared to what Turner had previously said about not just Giannis but even the Greek Freak’s elder brother.

The time when Evan Turner claimed no one in Milwaukee would practice with Giannis Antetokounmpo

Let’s rewind to September 2023, when Evan Turner stirred the pot and had some fun at Giannis Antetokounmpo’s expense. Giannis, speaking on the 48 Minutes podcast, opened up about why he doesn’t do workouts with current NBA players. He admitted that his inner fire takes over and makes it tough to keep things casual. Giannis’ intense competitive nature, while a strength on the court, might have been perceived differently by some of his peers.

Now, enter Evan Turner. The 10-year NBA veteran, who suited up for five different teams during his career, didn’t hold back. Jumping on X, he threw shade with a sharp one-liner: “Ain’t nobody coming to Milwaukee to work out wit you and your brother.” This tweet could be interpreted as a jab at Milwaukee’s status as a less glamorous market or perhaps a comment on the perceived isolation of the Antetokounmpo brothers’ training regimen.

And just like that, the internet had thoughts. Turner caught some serious heat, and before long, he tried to clear the air. He claimed the jab wasn’t aimed at anyone specific. In a follow-up post, he wrote, “Now how y’all figure I was talkin bout buddy? … I know a lot of people in Milwaukee who I think nobody will go train with… Take it easy.” 

Let’s be real—anyone paying attention knew exactly who “buddy” was. Yep, the recent instance is not the first time that the ex-Celtics star has spewed hate against Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, it’s to be seen if Turner has genuinely started appreciating the Bucks star or if he’ll flip once again the second Greek Freak faces some sort of challenge.

The timing of this apology, at the beginning of the playoffs, suggests a recognition of Giannis’ importance on the league’s biggest stage, but Turner’s history leaves room for skepticism about its long-term sincerity.