Giannis Antetokounmpo resonates with Mike Tyson's "born killer" mentality after getting roughed up vs Pistons
Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for 59 points on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo’s output, the highest in the NBA this season and second-best of his career, pushed the Milwaukee Bucks to a 127-120 overtime win. The two-time MVP rallied his team from an 18-point second-half deficit to a much-needed victory.
Detroit’s defense increased its physicality to try and slow down the Bucks’ best player. Antetokounmpo got hit in the eye, pulled back while grabbing a rebound and dealt with hard fouls.
Antetokounmpo said about dealing with the Pistons’ physical defense to carry his team to victory (10:20):
“How did he say it? Mike Tyson. I was watching the documentary yesterday with Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. … (Tyson) said some guys are manufactured killers, and he’s a ‘born killer.’ I just feel the same way. I’ve been in that position many times in my life.
Tyson had said in a Netflix documentary the “difference” that separates him from Paul:
“There’s a fundamental difference between me and Jake (Paul). He’s a manufactured killer. Television and papers made him a killer. He’s manufactured. I’m a natural-born killer. That’s the difference.”
On Wednesday night, Antetokounmpo took the physical and often desperate defense in stride and couldn’t resist taking a page out of Tyson’s book.
Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly outscored the Pistons by himself in overtime
Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly cost the Milwaukee Bucks the game when he fouled Detroit Pistons rookie Ron Holland II with one second left in regulation. Holland, though, missed both attempts to send the game to overtime.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks took control in the first two minutes where they scored eight points. The Greek international had nine in the period, the same output the entire Pistons made in extra time.
Milwaukee’s franchise cornerstone had this to say about the Bucks’ OT performance (4:48 mark):
“When you have a chance, a player goes up to the free-throw line and missed both, you have a chance. You realize at that point that you gotta take the game. You’re not gonna have another opportunity. We came out aggressive.”
Without Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis, Giannis Antetokounmpo had his most prolific game of the season. He delivered the blows in overtime to drag his team to victory.