Jrue Holiday says Milwaukee Bucks wanted Giannis Antetokounmpo to get his poster dunk on Daniel Gafford more than his 50-piece
Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly posterized Daniel Gafford during his 55-point game in the Milwaukee Bucks' 123-113 win over the Washington Wizards. Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said the team wanted Giannis to make that dunk more than him securing the 50-piece. Here's what he told reporters (via Eric Nehm):
"It was really that dunk that he missed, not the 50...That dunk? He should have made that. He went up a level, my boy."
Here's a clip of the play:
Giannis ALMOST had a poster dunk here 😱
#NBATwitter
https://t.co/NO7kaO6bhI
That play would've certainly been in the "Dunk of the Year" conversation. Giannis Antetokounmpo came off the screen set by Pat Connaughton and had a clear path to the rim before Gafford tried to draw a charge. However, that didn't stop Antetokounmpo as he took off just one step ahead of the free throw line.
The "Greek Freak" made a clean attempt but lost control of the ball at the last minute. The crowd and the Bucks bench were up on their feet from the moment he took off, which explains why Jrue Holiday and the rest of the locker room wanted him to finish the play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo says he missed the dunk because he got too excited
Giannis Antetokounmpo followed through on his tag as one of the funniest players in the NBA when describing his missed dunk on Daniel Gafford. Antetokounmpo claimed his wife wanted him to be on a highlight reel. She complained that he didn't dunk enough, which led to the Bucks All-Star attempting an outrageous dunk over Gafford.
Here's what Antetokounmpo said about this (via Jim Owkzarski):
“I got too excited,” he said. “Got my significant other, 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 added:
“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... If I could turn the time back, I hope I could have made that dunk.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains one of the best finishers in the NBA. He may have missed the opportunity against the Wizards, but it may not take him long to find another shot at posterizing an opposing defender.