Team USA players upset with Antetokounmpo brothers after late foul
Hostilities boiled over slightly on Saturday following Team USA's win over Greece.
Toward the end of the Americans' 69-53 win, Team USA forward Harrison Barnes went in for a breakaway dunk but was caught from behind by Greece forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Barnes converted the jam but was sent careening, narrowly missing the stanchion in the process.
Harrison Barnes with the monster dunk on Thanasis Antetokoumpo. pic.twitter.com/AbwJQnek17
— Basketball Highlights (@BasketballHigh8) September 7, 2019
Antetokounmpo was assessed a common foul, but some on Team USA were still bothered by the incident postgame. Jaylen Brown was seen having a discussion after the buzzer with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis' younger brother, before Khris Middleton intervened to separate the two.
Some heated conversations after the game. USA players presumably upset with the foul on Barnes. Middleton playing peacekeeper with Giannis. Not a great way to end the game. pic.twitter.com/WtpLB4nJdb
— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) September 7, 2019
"Yeah, I said something to Giannis. Well, Giannis said something to me," Brown said about the minor scuffle, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "But we've got bigger fish to fry. So we move on."
Giannis chose not to speak with media, per Windhorst.
Barnes says he was fortunate to escape serious injury on the play.
"The game was over; probably a frustration play," he said. "Apologies only go so far. If I don't get up and something would've happened, apologies aren't going to help us in the next game. Luckily, everything is all good."
Greece will next face the Czech Republic to round out its Group K schedule, needing a win to have any hope of moving on to the quarterfinals. The U.S., meanwhile, will secure progression with a win over Brazil. Both contests are set for Monday in Shenzhen.