Giannis’ 10-second (and more) FT routine draws more scrutiny

ORLANDO, Fla. — Giannis Antetokounmpo is having issues at the foul line again.

Not with his accuracy — but his timing.

For the second time in his team’s last three games, the Milwaukee Bucks’ star had a free throw taken away because he didn’t shoot it within the allotted 10 seconds — a problem that has dogged him at various times throughout his career.

“Sometimes I’m so tired I take a few extra seconds of resting,” said Antetokounmpo, who turns 28 on Tuesday. “If there’s going to be a 10-second call, I expect it. I’ll give them the ball and run the other way.”

The latest chapter in this years-long saga came with 1:52 left in the third quarter of Milwaukee’s 109-102 win over Orlando on Monday night. Antetokounmpo was fouled by Moritz Wagner and took about 13 seconds before taking and making his first attempt.

On what would have been the second free throw, Antetokounmpo’s routine was much like the previous attempt. He caught the pass from official Nate Green, took a deep breath and held the ball on his left hip for about 6 1/2 seconds. He then moved the ball in front of him, holding it with both hands, spun it, dribbled once, gathered it again and took another deep breath.

All that took about 7 more seconds.

“At the end of the day, that’s my routine,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, I have to respect the rules and shoot it before the 10 seconds. But anytime that it’s 10 seconds, I’m OK with it. If they call it, I don’t complain.”

By then, referee Brian Forte had seen enough and blew his whistle. Antetokounmpo never got the shot away, and it wouldn’t have counted at that point if he did.

“He’s aware,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said when asked if he talks to Antetokounmpo when the foul line becomes a struggle. “It’s a brief conversation. He’s got routines and sticks to them. I think he’s overall in a good place this year. He’s just got to tighten it up a little bit.”

A similar scene happened Friday in Milwaukee’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, when Antetokounmpo was called for a 10-second violation in what became a 133-129 loss. He didn’t play in Milwaukee’s win over Charlotte on Saturday.

For the season, Antetokounmpo is shooting a career-worst 62% from the foul line. He had a threegame stretch in November where he shot a horrible 13-for-38 (34%) from the line — a 4-for-15 game in Philadelphia was part of that, the night where he returned to the court postgame for some practice and wound up sending a ladder toppling to the ire of arena workers.

Since that three-game stretch, he’s shot 49 for 67 (73%). He was 8 for 11 on Monday.

“As I’ve said, 10 games ago, I wasn’t at my best,” Antetokounmpo said. “Now I’m making some. I’m shooting it better and hopefully I can keep this up. And I believe I’m going to keep this up.”