The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks have exchanged their fair share of trash talk over the past year, although most of it has come from one side.
Earlier this season, Devin Booker threw a pretty brutal shot at Giannis Antetokounmpo. When confronted about it later on, he didn’t show much remorse.
It was more of the same in the NBA Finals, when both head coach Monty Williams and point guard Chris Paul took turns jabbing at Antetokounmpo as well.
On Tuesday, Booker was asked point blank about the apparent beef that exists between his side and Antetokounmpo.
“It’s never personal between who you’re going with, unless lines are crossed,” Booker said, per Steve Megargee of the SunHerald. “Those guys aren’t that type and I would never go that way with them, because there’s a high respect level for each other. I think that’s why we’re in the position that we’re in right now.”
The funny part in all this is that Booker is joining Team USA for the Olympics soon, where he will be playing alongside Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. That’s probably as good a reason as any why beef between Booker and the Bucks at large isn’t ideal.
Yikes.https://t.co/JihUsYrDaP
— Game 7 (@game7__) July 17, 2021
Middleton, for his part, doesn’t think there will be lingering issues.
“I think we’ll be fine,” Middleton said, per Megargee. “Right now, we haven’t said a word to each other. I’m sure we won’t be best buddies during Team USA, but we’ll be teammates, for sure. We’ll be on the same path, talking basketball X’s and O’s, trying to get the job done. That’s what being competitors is all about, but also what being a teammate is all about.”
Middleton’s thoughtful approach shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. He and Antetokounmpo absolutely hated each other in the beginning of their relationship, and that didn’t stop them from becoming one of the league’s most successful duos. The same theory will likely apply here as well.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
