In a recent appearance on ‘The Old Man & The Three,” Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton set the record straight on what really happened during the infamous “ball gate” that took place earlier this season. As he told JJ, the Pacers never kept the official game ball and Giannis made a scene for nothing as he stormed the court in a tirade.
“My trainer was sitting courtside, so I walk out and give him my jersey, turned around, and there was some talk going back and forth. Lloyd is looking for me and one of the Bucks assistant coaches goes crazy on the other side, and he’s walking toward LP (coach Lloyd Pierce) and that’s when Dame and Giannis and the whole Bucks team walks over. One of our assistants had a basketball, not the basketball, a basketball. And he walked of with it and Giannis saw it… but they had the ball the whole time as it’s been proven. They had the ball the whole time.”
The incident took place back on December 13th, during a game between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. At the end of a career-high scoring night for Giannis, he completely lost it on the court after mistakenly thinking that the Pacers had taken the ball to give to their rookie instead.
The whole scene went viral online and it wasn’t the best look for Antetokounmpo, who was borderline unhinged as he was looking for the ball. The worst part about it for the Bucks is that they ended up being wrong about the ball and they were the ones who had it the whole time.
Both sides have since moved on from the ordeal, but it could resurface if these teams meet up again in the postseason. Their relationship is like somewhat of a budding rivalry now and things are sure to get heated if they face off in the spring for a chance at the title.
Bucks Vs. Pacers: A New Rivalry In The East
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have already won a championship in the past and they are very much the veterans of the Eastern Conference elite. Even so, Giannis himself is still just 29 years old and he’s playing with more hunger and ferocity than ever before. Sometimes, like that night against Indiana, that ferocity can become something out of control but Giannis is actively working to contain it.
Meanwhile, for the Pacers, they are a rising force in the NBA and they still have a lot to prove as far as being legitimate playoff contenders. But with Haliburton breaking out into a superstar, Indiana poses a real threat to those top teams like the Bucks and Celtics.
After several intense regular-season battles this season, and a viral matchup during the in-season tournament, we can all see the bad blood between these teams and it could make for an excellent series in the spring. For now, Giannis and the Bucks are still the guys at the top of the food chain but the Pacers are coming and they aren’t afraid of anyone or any team this season.
Ultimately, only time will tell how this season shakes up for both teams but it’s clear now who runs the East, and whoever wants to win the title will likely have to pass through one or both of these teams in order to get there.
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