On a night when the Milwaukee Bucks hoped to build momentum, the script flipped dramatically. After an overtime win against the Charlotte Hornets, fans at Fiserv Forum walked into Saturday’s matchup expecting another step forward.
Instead, October 15 turned into a long, frustrating evening for Milwaukee. The Lakers rolled to a dominant 119–95 victory, but even in defeat, one moment that Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sparked has taken over social media for all the right reasons.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Postgame Move Has Been Going Viral
The Lakers entered the contest shorthanded with forward Rui Hachimura sidelined due to calf soreness. In response, the coaching staff made a bold call to activate rookie Adou Thiero, who had been working his way back from a knee injury suffered months earlier. The matchup against Milwaukee marked Thiero’s long-awaited NBA debut.
Thiero saw just five minutes of action, and in those five minutes, he managed to score four points. His first points came from the free-throw line, calmly knocking down both attempts. Later, he streaked down the court on a late fast-break and threw down his first official field goal, which was a dunk that lit up the Lakers’ bench. For a player who had battled through rehab to reach this moment, it was a debut he’ll never forget.
After the buzzer, cameras caught a unique scene. Thiero was seen cradling a ball he hoped to take home, only for a referee to pull it away and attempt to route it elsewhere as Lakers players protested the call.
When an official prevented Luka Dončić from handing the keepsake to the rookie, Antetokounmpo intervened, calmly reclaiming the ball and passing it to Dončić so Thiero could treasure the memento from his first NBA points.
“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 each other to succeed as a team,” said Thiero after the game on how players helped him to get the ball.
This act of kindness wasn’t out of character. Just last year, during the Bucks’ run to the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup title, Antetokounmpo made headlines for lifting teammates on two-way deals. He promised Liam Robbins that winning the tournament would give him enough prize money to repurchase a house in Iowa, and the financial boost from Milwaukee’s victory also proved life-changing for fringe players Stanley Umude and Ryan Rollins.
Even in the defeat, Antetokounmpo did everything possible as he scored 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on 9-of-15 shooting to steady Milwaukee’s offense. On the other hand, if we look at Dončić, he was relentless, scoring 41 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out six assists, finishing 9-of-19 from the field.
The Bucks may have lost on Saturday night. Still, Antetokounmpo’s viral moment reminded everyone why he is respected across the league: greatness isn’t just measured in wins, but also in character.
