“Let them play.” Polemic in the NBA after Giannis Antetokounmpo received a technical foul for looking badly at an opponent

The Milwaukee Bucks, the reigning champions of the North American professional basketball league (NBA), were defeated on Monday, May 9, on home soil, 108-116 in the eastern conference semifinal (overall score 2-2, “best of seven games” system). It was not the result that held the headlines, but a phase that had Nigerian-born Greek basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, 27, in the foreground. According to Sports Illustrated, the winger of force received a technical foul because he “looked too bad” at his opponent.

Third quarter of Fiserv Forum. After an action completed with a spectacular dunk, bucks’ megastar receives a technical foul. The Greek’s only fault: he crooked and looked ugly at Al Horford, the adewer whose “light had just been turned off”.

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Andy Nesbitt, USA Today:

“How much does it cost me to say something? $ 20,000? I’m not saying anything anymore.”

In the press conference after the third match of the semi-final, Antetokoumpo ironically asked: “How much does it cost if I say something against the referees? The fine is $ 20,000? I prefer not to say anything and raise the money for my son.” Maverick Shai Antetokounmpo was born on August 18, 2021.

In 2019 and 2020, Antetokounmpo won the NBA MVP title, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to win two MVPs before he turned 26.

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