Ex-NBAers criticize Giannis for testy response about defending Butler

Giannis Antetokounmpo was perplexed that a media member would ask whether he'd petitioned Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer for the assignment of defending Jimmy Butler late in Monday's Game 1.

"Why would you ask that?" the Defensive Player of the Year retorted following the Bucks' 115-104 series-opening loss to the Miami Heat.

While Antetokounmpo's on-court presence didn't prevent Butler from rattling off 40 points, a career best in the postseason, the Bucks star's defensiveness after the game caught the attention of a number of NBA veterans.

"He asked that (because) you are the Defensive Player of the Year and Jimmy just had a career-high 40," tweeted former swingman Richard Jefferson. "My question is why did you ask him why did he ask that question?"

Though never confused with a star defender himself, free-agent point guard Isaiah Thomas was also critical of Antetokounmpo's approach, tweeting that some of the league's top defensive talents would have relished the challenge of keeping Butler in check.

"As a competitor and DPOY that's your job to take that assignment," Thomas wrote. "I know Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Kawhi (Leonard) woulda been like, 'FOH I'm guarding him.'"

"Straight up," retired big man Kendrick Perkins responded to Thomas.

Instead of Antetokounmpo, two-time All-Star wing Khris Middleton and veteran guard George Hill spent the bulk of the game trying to slow down the red-hot Butler.

Although the Greek Freak came within an assist of a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, a block, and a steal, Antetokounmpo also finished a team-worst minus-14 in 37 minutes. The atypically demure play from the presumptive 2019-20 MVP allowed the fifth-seeded Heat to take a 1-0 series lead over the top-seeded Bucks.

Game 2 tips off Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.