Oscar Tshiebwe scores first NBA point, becomes center of postgame scuffle involving Giannis Antetokounmpo
Oscar Tshiebwe found himself at the center of a very strange situation Wednesday night following a game between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks.
Tshiebwe, who played several strong seasons at Kentucky, earned his first career NBA points against the Bucks in the closing minutes. Pacers HC Rick Carlisle told reporters postgame that a Pacers coach then grabbed the game ball to give to Tshiebwe for scoring his first points.
However, there’s a problem. Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the best basketball players on the planet, scored 64 points in the game, which is a career high. When he learned the Pacers had taken the ball he began yelling at players and coaches on the court before storming back to the Pacers locker room to retrieve it himself.
Here’s video:
This angle of Giannis running into Pacers tunnel to look for game ball ?
(via tyschrades/IG) pic.twitter.com/EUTYuK5uIb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 14, 2023
Here’s more video and alleged audio from the altercation near the locker room. There is some language in the following video:
LEAKED Audio Of Pacers Refusing To Give Giannis Antetokounmpo The “Game Ball”?:
“You want the ball? You’re not getting that ball”
Then, Giannis gets heated at Tyrese Haliburton and yells at him: “Go get the f*cking ball! You need to go get it” pic.twitter.com/e9XAQzNZVl
— LegendZ (@legendz_nba) December 14, 2023
The story took another left turn soon after the Bucks reportedly recovered the ball after security got involved. Giannis claimed that the ball he received “didn’t feel” like the actual game ball, insinuating the Pacers just gave him some ball that was lying around so Tshiebwe could have his earned keepsake.
The saga takes another turn. Giannis says he is not sure if the game ball he received is the actual game ball. He also reveals he doesn’t possess the Game 6 Finals game ball either.
Full answer: pic.twitter.com/dcIxc17oJr
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 14, 2023