Things took a playful but intense turn in a heated showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics on Sunday. During the game, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo elbowed Jaylen Brown in the back of the head. After the hit, Giannis extended his hand to Brown in what seemed like a handshake, but then, with a mischievous grin, he pulled it back to touch his own head instead. But for former Warriors player Matt Barnes, this wasn’t an idea of fun.

Reflecting on the moment in a recent episode of the “All The Smoke” podcast, Barnes didn’t hold back. “I’m not saying he intentionally went at Jayson Tatum’s foot, but he’s done it before,” Barnes remarked, referencing other questionable moves by Giannis. Highlighting the missed foul call on the elbow, Barnes added that Tatum had every right to take offense, noting how critical player protection is in the league. “Elbowing Jaylen Brown and then giving him the too fast or too slow (fake handshake) … I’m just saying right now, someone did that to me, that’s an offense for a slap,” he said, clearly irked by the antics.

Adding fuel to the fire, Barnes pointed out that Giannis’s recent behavior doesn’t seem too out of character, especially given the Bucks’ rough start this season. Once considered a powerhouse, the team has fallen hard, currently holding the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 2-8. “The way the Milwaukee Bucks are playing this season, the two-time MVP might be going ‘crazy,'” Barnes suggested, hinting that the team’s struggles could be bringing out an edgier side of Giannis.

He didn’t stop there. Barnes further criticized Giannis’s “track record of doing some questionable stuff,” connecting it to how the Bucks’ poor performance might affect their star player’s mindset. “If you look back, and obviously, I think the way this team has been playing, it might be driving him a little crazy,” he noted, making it clear he’s noticed a pattern in Giannis’s on-court behavior.

With an aging roster, the Bucks seem to be struggling to keep pace with younger teams. Interestingly, the only teams they’ve beaten so far are the 76ers and Jazz, both holding similarly disappointing records at 2-7. For Barnes, this might be more than just a coincidence—it could be a sign of deeper issues brewing in Milwaukee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown’s feud extends till post game interview

Though the Bucks fell 113-107 to the Celtics, the post-game buzz was all about Jaylen Brown’s blunt response to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s antics on the court. Brown didn’t mince words when asked about Giannis’s behavior: “Giannis is a child,” he told reporters. “I’m just focused on getting my team a win, and that’s what we did tonight.” Despite Giannis scoring an impressive 43 points, Boston walked away with the victory, leaving Brown confident and unfazed.

Interestingly, Giannis didn’t seem bothered by Brown’s comment. When told about the “child” remark, he shrugged it off with a smile. “This is who I am,” he said. “I play the game with fun and joy. I surround myself with young people so I can stay young myself.” He embraced the label, adding, “If I’m called a child, so be it. I have three children of my own and, I think, six nieces. So I take care of a lot of kids around here.”

The exchange was especially intriguing, given that Giannis had praised Brown in an interview with Complex last month, calling him “the best player” due to the Celtics’ championship ambitions. For Giannis, success is all about winning; in his eyes, Brown had earned that respect. It’s safe to say that respect hasn’t exactly been mutual.