NBA: Antetokounmpo downplays spat with assistant coach

After figuring in what appeared to be a verbal altercation, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Sean Sweeney have put their differences behind them.

The usually mild mannered 22-year-old Greek forward was recently heard unleashing an expletive-laden tirade against Sweeney while on the bench during the team’s 121-108 loss against the Utah Jazz over the weekend.

Giannis yelling “I’ll fuck you up” at Coach Sweeney pic.twitter.com/OQjS8K0BIh

— The Render (@TheRenderNBA) November 26, 2017

But after cooler heads prevailed, last season’s NBA Most Improved Player downplayed the spat and said the altercation happened in the heat of the moment.

“That’s what me and Sweeney do,” Antetokounmpo told reporters, as seen on a clip from the Bucks’ official Twitter page. “You always fight with your brothers. You know, it’s something common.”

“That’s what we do. We fight. We argue. At the end of the day we both want to win.”@Giannis_An34 on his relationship with Coach Sweeney pic.twitter.com/uNlJ4XQaw8

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 26, 2017

After a promising start to the 2017-2108 NBA season, tensions are certainly high in Milwaukee as the team has lost  three of its last four games, with a subpar 9-9 record.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, continues to post MVP-like stat line of 29.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra