After the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119–95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night, a moment of confusion over the game ball turned into a display of sportsmanship, thanks to Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero, who had just scored his first NBA points, including a pair of free throws and a fast-break dunk, was the focus of a postgame effort by his teammates to secure the game ball as a keepsake. However, the referees initially denied the request.
Jarred Vanderbilt held onto the game ball when the game ended, but before Vanderbilt could take the ball back to the locker room, crew chief Pat Fraher approached Vanderbilt, took the ball away from him and then walked the ball to center court to present it to a Bucks team attendant.
The situation was resolved when Giannis Antetokounmpo intervened. Luka Dončić was part of the group asking for the ball when Antetokounmpo silently walked over, took the ball and handed it to Dončić.
Giannis is a REAL ONE 💯
The Lakers wanted the game ball for Adou Thiero, who scored his first NBA points, but the refs were not allowing it.
Giannis stepped in and secured it for the young fella ❤️ pic.twitter.com/2ABmAjwEc3
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 16, 2025
Giannis later explained his actions:
“I didn’t understand what was going on,” Antetokounmpo said. “I asked Thanasis and he told me what was going on, he was like ‘they’re not giving the ball to the rookie,’ I don’t know why… so I just went and got it”.
Thiero, who had been recovering from a knee injury and was making his NBA debut, expressed gratitude for the gesture. Per the Lakers’ television broadcast, he said:
“At first I didn’t even realize it was all for me, but I’m very thankful for this team and I think that shows how connected we are and how much we want to support each other”.
While the Lakers dominated the scoreboard, the night’s most memorable highlight may well have been the one that happened after the final buzzer.
