The Milwaukee Bucks endured a tough night on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum, falling 131-113 to the Atlanta Hawks in a lopsided loss. Among the low points was a notably unsuccessful isolation play by Thanasis Antetokounmpo during garbage time late in the fourth quarter, with the Hawks firmly in control.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s late-game isolation attempt fails dramatically
With under a minute remaining and the Hawks leading by 18 points, Thanasis Antetokounmpo called for an isolation against Hawks big man Christian Koloko. Confident in his ability to take Koloko one-on-one off the dribble, Antetokounmpo made several moves toward the basket. However, his drive ended abruptly when Koloko emphatically blocked his lay-up attempt.
The play quickly drew reactions from fans online, many mocking Antetokounmpo’s decision and execution. Despite the riskiness of an isolation down by a large margin late in the game, he proceeded, which added to the criticism after the failed attempt.
Fan reactions highlight the criticism of Antetokounmpo’s decision
Social media users expressed their amusement and disbelief over the play. One commenter stated,
“The longest tenured ‘make-a-wish’ pro player ever! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂,”
while another noted,
“somebody called him ‘make a wish player.’”
Others humorously referenced the isolation itself with remarks such as “La fitness iso 😭” and
“Them boys on the hawks bench dying laughing is even funnier 😂😂😂😂.”
Additional reactions included,
“No way bro called iso down 20 with 37secs Ona clock 😭😭😭😭💀”
and
“All that just to get blocked 😂😂😂😂.”
These comments capture the tone of ridicule and surprise following the sequence.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s future opportunities with the Bucks
Despite the setback, Thanasis Antetokounmpo is expected to have more opportunities to contribute moving forward. The 33-year-old, brother of star Giannis Antetokounmpo, signed a one-year contract worth $2.87 million with the Bucks in August 2025. This contract suggests the team values his presence and experience, offering chances for redemption on the court.
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