Giannis Antetokounmpo drove hard to the rim Sunday and sent Alperen Sengun crashing and slipping to the floor. Then he stared into the camera and delivered his cold-blooded shot at Houston Rockets center.
"Wake me up. Wake me up," Antetokounmpo panted and said before the network replayed the score again.
The jab came midway through the third quarter of Milwaukee's 115-122 loss to Houston. Antetokounmpo was rushing for a drive, and on the opposite side Sengun was on a mission to protect the rim.
The Bucks' star got his point, but the heavy contact left the Rockets center flat on the deck. The crowd was surprised when Antetokounmpo didn't assist Sengun in standing. Instead, he chose to take a shot at his rival, looking into the TV camera.
However, the majority were not surprised by the gesture of vintage Antetokounmpo. He attacked the paint with force, took the contact, and converted it into a score. The irony? Sengun got bulldozed on hardwood, and it was his team that received the foul call.
Antetokounmpo knocked down the bonus free throw to put the Bucks up 76-65. Then he looked straight into the TV camera and repeated his ice-cold action.
For the unversed, this wasn't just random trash talk. If it was, then Fiserv Forum's crowd could see Antetokounmpo helping Sengun get back on his feet.
They have a history dating back to the 2025 EuroBasket, when the Rockets center called out Antetokounmpo's passing abilities. The Greek Freak fired back, telling Sengun to check his highlights on YouTube. Their fanbases also joined the war on social media.
Eventually, things got too serious and both stars buried the hatchet publicly. They drew a line between basketball but that truce clearly stays on social media. And on the court? It's still personal.
Still, Sengun had the last laugh. The Turkish center finished with 23 points, while Antetokounmpo was found flexing only that one highlight moment, even after scoring 37.
The two All-Stars will meet again this season. Based on Sunday's intensity, those matchups will be must-watch television. Fans should not be surprised if they see the beef continue on the hardwood.
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