Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo Ejected From Pistons Game for Ridiculous Reason — a Look at Some of the Worst Ejections in NBA History

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected from their home game against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, November 8, for a seemingly unjustifiable reason.

With around nine minutes left in the third quarter, the 28-year-old was handed out his second technical foul of the evening after staring down at Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart for a few seconds following a dunk.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player complained about the ridiculous call, mainly as his action was generally a usual and harmless taunt rather than an excessive display.

Antetokounmpo expressed his frustration by sitting alongside a fan on the front row before his teammates restrained and led him back to the bench.

Despite missing their main man, the Bucks secured a close 120-118 victory at the Fiserv Forum, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter.

Damian Lillard shouldered a significant scoring load with 34 points, complemented by Bobby Portis with 18 points and Brook Lopez contributing 14.

Some of the most ridiculous ejections in NBA history

Throughout the years, the league has witnessed some absurd ejections for bizarre and inexplicable reasons.

James Harden's swing

During Game 3 of their first-round playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets in April 2023, then-Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden was ejected near the end of the third quarter by receiving a flagrant 2 foul call after hitting Nets forward Royce O'Neale on the midsection.

The swing looked routine and a regular offensive foul call at worst. When describing the call, renowned ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith did not mince his words.

"That might be the worst ejection I've ever seen in NBA history. ... It's debatable if that was even a foul," Smith said.

A slap on the backside

Former Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson was ejected in a January 2020 regular season game after slapping former teammate Jae Crowder's butt during a free throw.

During the first quarter, Crowder and Thompson received a technical foul due to a heated exchange. However, Crowder did not earn a second tech during Thompson's ejection.

"It's a former teammate of mine, Jae Crowder. We have history. It's just a little competitive spirit. They might have took it the wrong way," Thompson said after the game.

Tim Duncan ejected for laughing

In a late regular season game on April 15, 2007, San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan exchanged words with official Joey Crawford while sitting on the bench, resulting in a technical foul. At first, it seemed harmless.

Duncan laughed upon earning the technical, a reaction that didn't sit well with the official. In response, Crawford issued a second technical foul to Duncan, promptly ejecting him from the game.

The league suspended the veteran official for the rest of the season, and he was also meted a fine of $25,000.