In hoops, Giannis Antentokounmpo is court royalty. But in baseball, he's a complete rookie.
In fact, the 24-year-old from Greece said he'd never even touched a baseball before he did so Monday night at Yankee Stadium.
The reigning NBA MVP was shocked.
Milwaukee Bucks forward and 2019 NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, talks to New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia before a baseball game between the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, July 15, 2019, in New York. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
"It was really heavy," Antentokounmpo told The Associated Press. "I thought it would be lighter."
The Milwaukee Bucks star went on to take a few swings in the batting cage beneath the stands before the Yankees faced the Tampa Bay Rays. The 6-foot-11 Antentokounmpo got some coaching, with limited results — he swung and missed once with the ball on a tee, and made light contact on two other tries.
"I would be a terrible baseball player," he said.
Milwaukee Bucks forward and 2019 NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, center, and his three brothers, left, second from right, and right, pose for a photograph on the field with New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia, second from left, at Yankee Stadium before a baseball game between the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, July 15, 2019, in New York. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
The "Greek Freak" was in the Bronx with his three brothers to promote his new signature sneaker and signed a pair for a fan — Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia.
Antentokounmpo watched the Yankees take batting practice, which reinforced his notion that he wasn't destined for the diamond.
"I saw Aaron Judge hitting the ball into the stands. That's amazing. You've got to be really strong to do that," he said.
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.
They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.
Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.
76ERS 125, KNICKS 114
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.
With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.
The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.
NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..
Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.
Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
