Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer is calling out the NBA and their officiating crew for what he deems as a lack of “protection” regarding hard fouls on Bucks franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I just think sometimes the hits that Giannis is taking, the league needs to look at them. The league needs to protect him,” Budenholzer said, according to Gabe Stoltz of Brew Hoop.
Antetokounmpo’s play style is certainly something that officials have had to battle with, as he plays using his massive physical, and physicality, advantage while working in the paint, and drives with explosive bursts to the hoop.
The issue was evident during the Bucks’ 119-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, when Blazers player Jerami Grant wrapped his arm around a driving Antetokounmpo, unable to stop him from getting to the rim, knocking Antetokounmpo off balance as he hoisted up what ended up being a wild shot as he fell to the floor, getting held on the neck by Justice Winslow, but officials only assessed a common foul on the play, despite it’s intensity.
