Giannis Antetokounmpo's teammates loved exciting missed dunk during his career night vs. the Wizards: 'I got too excited'
Jordan Nwora was slipping on his shoes at his locker when he was asked what his favorite basket was of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 20 made shots during his career-high 55-point effort Tuesday night. His eyes got wide. He, technically, didn’t have a favorite. Neither did Pat Connaughton as he talked while filling a to-go bag with food before getting on the team plane to Toronto.
No, for those two, it was the dunk Antetokounmpo missed with 2 minutes, 32 seconds left in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 123-113 victory over Washington.
“The dunk,” Jrue Holiday began.
His eyes, too, got bigger as he thought about it.
“The dunk was the one that was like, that s---‘s crazy,” he told the Journal Sentinel. “If he would’ve made it. And he missed it and it was still crazy. That’s what I wish. I’m so happy that he got 55, but if he would’ve made that dunk I think it would’ve been…”
He trailed off for a beat and looked off in the distance.
“That would’ve had to be like top five dunks in history. It would’ve had to been. He was up so high and they…yeah…it was crazy. It’s probably a crazy picture now.”
Antetokounmpo nearly completed the dunk over Wizards center Daniel Gafford, an effort Antetokounmpo admitted he wanted.
“I got too excited,” he said. “Got my significant other (Mariah Riddlesprigger), she’s telling me they don’t post you on what’s this called, house of highlight, anymore, because you don’t dunk the ball. You don’t get as high as the young fellas. I said yeah it’s not the same, I’ve been here for a decade now. The legs are gone. I don’t have legs to get that high.”
He smiled.
“But today I tried to get high. But I had a windmill so I hope that satisfied her. But I really wanted to finish that dunk. I think I got excited and I went too high than what I usually jump. Usually I don’t jump, I just stretch my hands to get there, but that one I actually took off and I got excited and I missed. If I could turn the time back, I hope I could have made that dunk.”
Even in the moment it was obvious he wanted it, as he double over knowing something special had bounded away.
And then learning postgame his teammates called it their favorite moment didn’t soothe it.
“Damn, man,” he said with a head shake and a small grin. “It’s OK.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis' teammates loved his missed dunk: 'I got too excited'
