NBA ref explains why Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected / News - Basketnews.com

NBA official Rodney Mott explained that Giannis Antetokounmpo was issued 1st technical foul due to profanity, while 2nd technical was given for taunting.

Credit: AP – Scanpix Credit AP – Scanpix

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to miss out on most of the 2nd half against the Detroit Pistons due to being ejected.

Player of the Game EFF 24 Damian Lillard Points 34 Accuracy 10-25 Rebounds 2 Assists 3

Many fans were left in shock for the 2nd technical Antetokounmpo received after dunking in front of Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart.

Nevertheless, as the NBA official Rodney Mott explained, the referees saw this action as taunting.

"After the dunk, Giannis turns to his opponent and taunts him, and a taunting technical foul was called an unsportsmanlike. And he was ejected from the game, per rule, because two unsportsmanlike technical fouls, you are ejected from the game," Mott said in the official NBA pool report after the game.

Meanwhile, the first technical was given due to profanity.

"On the play, Giannis drives to the basket, and he thinks he gets fouled. Then he approaches the game official and uses profanity, which is an unsportsmanlike technical foul and was issued at that time," Mott explained.

Antetokounmpo finished the game with 15 points (6/14 2PT, 0/2 3PT, 3/6 FT), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 turnover.

Despite losing Giannis, the Bucks managed to beat the Pistons 120-118.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.