(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks witnessed something rare on Wednesday night: the ejection of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo was kicked out of the game with nine minutes to go in the third quarter following a second technical foul.
On Thursday morning’s “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith was livid about the referee’s choice to toss the two-time MVP.
“I’m going to call the league office today. Who the hell is paying to see the referee? That is not a reason to eject Giannis Antetokounmpo from a game,” Smith said.
He continued: “That is not a reason to eject a superstar basketball player who clearly the paying customer is coming to see.”
.@stephenasmith says Giannis getting ejected was RIDICULOUS
“I’m going to call the league office today. Who the hell is paying to see the referee? That is not a reason to eject Giannis Antetokounmpo from a game.” pic.twitter.com/y84gU3WpKC
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 9, 2023
The second technical came after Antetokounmpo dunked on Detroit Pistons star Isaiah Stewart and then taunted him.
Per NBA rules, receiving a second technical automatically results in ejection.
Just moments before, he earned his first tech after squabbling with a referee when he believed he had been fouled.
Following the second technical, Antetokounmpo was left in disbelief and even sat on the sidelines with fans before making his way to the locker room.
Smith thinks the refs were being over-the-top with their call and that they were too harsh with their judgment.
While Antetokounmpo’s actions were indeed minor compared to other things that NBA fans have seen from players over the years, he is very aware of the rules.
He knew that he had to behave well following his first technical, whether he agreed with it or not.
Smith and many Bucks fans were furious with the call but they would have been even more upset if Milwaukee didn’t end up pulling out a win.
They did, but just barely: the Bucks beat the Pistons, 120-118, without Antetokounmpo.
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