NBA RESCINDS Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s final rebound against the Wizards after the Bucks star admitted he ‘stole’ a triple-double by deliberately tossing ball off backboard to himself
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s would-be triple-double against the Wizards didn’t last for long, as the NBA took away his 10th rebound from the contest on Monday.
The Bucks star was one rebound short of the feat as the final seconds drained off the clock in the Milwaukee win, and seemed to get the decisive board with less than two seconds left when he meekly tossed the ball off the backboard and caught it.
But the league has adjusted Antetokounmpo’s stats from the game after the ‘Greek Freak’ admitted he ‘stole’ the triple-double.
According to NBA rules, a player must shoot ‘with intent to score a field goal’ for a shot to count.
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That was evidently not the case with Antetokounmpo’s attempt, and the NBA struck the play from the record as his final stat line now sits at 23 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. The Bucks won the game 117-111.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo grabbed an intentional rebound Sunday
But the NBA deemed the play outside of the rules for an official field goal attempt
After the game, Antetokounmpo said he originally intended to go and score but admitted that he used a little cunning to get what he needed.
‘I was thinking about scoring the ball, but I feel like in those situations it’s best to kind of keep the ball,’ Antetokounmpo said. ‘But yeah, I just try to play the game smart and kind of stole one.’
Ironically, it’s been Antetokounmpo’s MVP competition Nikola Jokic – not him – who’s been accused of stat-padding this season.
The Nuggets center is currently averaging 24.5 points, 10.0 assists and 11.8 rebounds per game, but Denver have won a staggering 28 straight games when he’s posted a triple-double.
As for Antetokounmpo, there is previous precedent to the league rescinding a triple-double.
Nikola Jokic has been repeatedly accused of ‘stat-padding’ for the Nuggets this season
In 2003, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Davis was a rebound away from a triple-double in a game at home against the Utah Jazz.
He intentionally shot the ball off his own basket to get the board. However, the arena’s official scorer didn’t credit the attempt and the league clarified it wouldn’t count.
Just a year later, Atlanta Hawks guard Bob Sura intentionally missed a layup to get one final rebound in his attempt to log three straight triple-doubles.
At the time, he was given the rebound, however, the league said he wouldn’t be credited with the board the following day.
