There’s still some steam coming out of Enes Kanter’s ears over Thursday’s incident with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The New York Knicks big man was ejected in the fourth quarter of the team’s 112-96 loss to Milwaukee after getting into it with Antetokounmpo, who took exception to Kanter elbowing him in the face on a drive to the basket.
Giannis and Enes Kanter got heated pic.twitter.com/mnVbVeBAUH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 28, 2018
Addressing the media on Friday, Kanter took some shots at Antetokounmpo and referenced The Greek Freak threatening Knicks teammate Mario Hezonja earlier this month for stepping over him on a dunk.
“I was very pissed because what kind of player are you … did he not get any PR lesson?” said Kanter, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “You can’t say to the media, ‘I’m going to punch somebody in the whatever.’ If you’re the best player in the world or the worst player in the world, you can’t be talking about my teammate like that. It’s very childish of him. He’s an MVP candidate. He’s a cool dude and carrying that franchise, but you can’t be talking about my teammates like that.
“He’s the golden boy,” Kanter added about Antetokounmpo. “He’s the golden child. I’m not trying to fight against superstars and All-Stars. It just happens. If it was something else, I would’ve gone after somebody else. Obviously he’s the golden child and they gave me two technicals. OK. Whatever? I’m going to leave the management to take care of all that stuff.”
Antetokounmpo is indeed enjoying an MVP-caliber campaign with averages of 26.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game for the 24-10 Bucks. Kanter himself is also having a productive season (14.7 points, 10.8 rebounds a game) but recently lost his hold on the starting center position for the 9-27 Knicks.
The incident between Kanter and Antetokounmpo also drew the ire of injured Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis (albeit for a different reason), and it’s clear that there is no love lost between the two Eastern Conference rivals.
