Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach, Adrian Griffin, expressed his commitment to safeguarding Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court after the star player’s ejection during a game against the Detroit Pistons, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and vocal support to shield Antetokounmpo from potential on-court altercations and ensure his well-being throughout the intense matchups.
Antetokounmpo’s abrupt ejection, stemming from a second technical foul for perceived taunting, cast a shadow over his otherwise impactful performance, culminating in 15 points and nine rebounds in a brief 22-minute appearance, leaving both fans and teammates stunned by the unexpected turn of events and prompting a call for heightened protection from the coaching staff to prevent such incidents in the future.
Griffin’s postgame remarks underscored his determination to advocate for Antetokounmpo’s fair treatment on the court, acknowledging the need for a more proactive approach in addressing any potential instances of on-court aggression or disputes.
“I think I just have to do a better job,” he said postgame. “Giannis doesn’t complain to the refs. He’s really respectful to the refs. I think I’m letting him down in that sense because I think I need to be a little more vocal during the games when he is getting hit and stick up for him a little bit better. So I’ve been dropping the ball on that.
Citing the emotional nature of basketball and the inherent intensity of professional play, Griffin highlighted the importance of maintaining a vigilant stance to protect Antetokounmpo from undue confrontations.
“It’s emotional game,” Griffin continued. “He made a phenomenal play. It was exciting, emotional. I thought he moved on fairly quickly. I was surprised with the second technical but that’s up to the league to decide. I thought he made a tremendous play. Like I said, he’s extremely respectful to the game and to the fans, to the refs. I think I just got to do a better job of protecting him.”
