Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure LA Lakers rookie Adou Thiero would not forget his first NBA game.
The LA Lakers closed out their five-game road swing with an impressive win over the Milwaukee Bucks, despite a few key absences.
Luka Doncic came out on top in a clash between the NBA’s two leading scorers, helping the Lakers notch their 10th victory of the season.
Injuries to Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart forced the Lakers to shuffle their line-up again, giving Bronny James another start and handing rookie Adou Thiero his league debut.
Thiero scored his first points during that debut. The team wanted to save the game ball for him, but referees and arena staff were not making it easy. That was when Giannis stepped in to sort things out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo steps in to get LA Lakers the game ball for Adou Thiero
After the LA Lakers’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks, players attempted to retrieve the game ball for Thiero. However, referees and arena staff refused to hand it over.
The Lakers seemed puzzled as officials repeatedly took the ball away and handed it back to staff instead of giving it to the team.
Antetokounmpo noticed what was happening and stepped in, retrieving the ball from the arena staff.
He then handed it to a Lakers player near centre court, ensuring Thiero received a proper memento from his first night in the league.
Adou Thiero appreciative of LA Lakers teammates for securing game ball
Following the game, Thiero expressed his appreciation for the LA Lakers’ efforts in securing the ball, noting how it highlighted their strong team spirit.
“At first, I didn’t realize it was all for me. I am very thankful for this team. I think that shows how connected we are and how much we want each other to succeed, and succeed as a team.”
Thiero may not have been aware of Giannis’ involvement in getting him the ball, which could explain why he did not mention him specifically.
It would be good if the rookie finds out about what the Greek ace did to make sure he has something to remember his NBA debut by.
The Lakers are heading back home this week, and there is a chance Adou Thiero could make his first appearance at Crypto.com Arena when they face off against the Utah Jazz.
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