Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is known for having a notoriously lengthy free throw routine. On Friday, one Cleveland Cavaliers player trolled the 2-time MVP about it.
The Cavaliers beat the Bucks 112-100 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. Antetokounmpo tied for the team high in scoring with 22 points. But he went a brutal 4/9 from the charity stripe in the contest.
Perhaps one of those misses came in part due to Cavs forward Max Strus counting down while the Bucks star was taking a free throw attempt.
Strus was visibly counting with his fingers as Antetokounmpo took free throws during the early portion of the second quarter. The scene quickly gained traction on social media.
When the referee hands the ball to an NBA player at the free throw line, they have ten seconds to attempt a free throw. The Bucks forward released his foul shot right before Strus reached the 10-second mark.
Even though Strus’ manual count is probably not entirely accurate, Antetokounmpo’s sluggish free throw technique hasn’t always been a problem. The Bucks star’s routine during his team’s 2021 championship run was also the subject of controversy.
Antetokounmpo wasn’t called for a violation on Friday despite Strus’ finger count, but he did miss the free throw. As the great Rasheed Wallace once said — “ball don’t lie.”