Giannis Antetokounmpo lost his cool against Moe Wagner in a chippy matchup that ended with a headbutt and a one-game suspension. Early in the game, Giannis was getting manhandled by the Nets and visibly frustrated. Wagner added fuel by stepping over Giannis and even planting his foot in Giannis’s armpit while he was on the ground. Giannis stared him down as Wagner ran off unfazed.
Later, Giannis responded with force. He powered down the court, threw his weight around, and made sure Wagner felt it. That exchange set up the now-infamous forehead bump. As the two lined up near midcourt, Giannis leaned into Wagner, putting his forehead on him just slightly beyond casual contact. Wagner flopped and acted like he was seriously hurt, which didn’t impress Giannis in the least. Officials and players jumped in, and Giannis was ejected. The league gave him a one-game suspension.
This isn’t Giannis’s first heated moment, and it’s definitely not the NBA’s first weird headbutt. But it was another reminder that when Giannis is frustrated, things can escalate fast. Wagner, on the other hand, seemed to succeed in his role as an instigator.