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.
O Strus contando o tempo KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK https://t.co/6picaTChWp
— AirBall Brasil | NBA (@BrasilAirball) January 27, 2024
NBA players are allowed 10 seconds to attempt their free throw once the referee hands them the ball at the stripe. Strus was able to get to the 10-second mark just before the Bucks forward released his foul shot.
While Strus’ manual count likely isn’t completely accurate, it’s hardly the first time Antetokounmpo’s slow free throw routine has been an issue. The Bucks star also faced controversy over his routine during his team’s championship run in 2021.
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.”
