Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Buzzer-Beater Caps Emotional Win Over Former Team for Myles Turner
INDIANAPOLIS – Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a game-winning fadeaway jumper at the buzzer, silencing a vocal Indiana Pacers crowd and securing a victory for the Milwaukee Bucks in a tightly contested rivalry game on November 4, 2025. The shot, described by teammates as “surreal” and “2K-ish,” capped a night where the Bucks rallied around new teammate Myles Turner in his first return to Indiana since being traded.
The game carried added emotional weight for turner, who spent 10 seasons with the Pacers and remains the franchise’s all-time leader in blocked shots. Antetokounmpo emphasized the importance of the win for Turner, noting the relatively short average career span of an NBA player – “4 1/2 years in the NBA.”
“Before the game, we can not stress it enough to Myles how important it was for us to win this game for him,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m just going to say this for Myles as maybe he didn’t say it for himself. The average life span of an NBA player, I think, is 4 1/2 years in the NBA. He had 10 years of service in one franchise.”
Antetokounmpo acknowledged the challenging reception Turner received from the Indiana crowd. “To be able to come here in Indiana, all-time block leader, to be booed, he might not say it, but it kinda hurt, but we are here to pick him up and tell him how much we love him and respect him. And we understand how much he gave for the team for Indiana and how much he’s willing to give for Milwaukee.”
The game-winner itself drew immediate reactions from Bucks players. Guard Gary Trent Jr.called the shot “gorgeous to see,” while cole Anthony said he told Antetokounmpo he was “crazy” for attempting the difficult shot. “He spun and he waited for the second defender to come catch up, and then he shot it. So, that joe was mad disrespectful, but that’s unbelievable. That’s an incredible shot, and he bailed us out.”
Forward Khris Middleton attributed Antetokounmpo’s success to his dedicated work ethic. “I mean, that’s what he works on,” Green said.”You see him work on that in the gym. It’s just one of those moments where planning meets the moment and then you live with the result, make or miss, knowing you practice it. It finally felt good to come out on the winning side of it here this time.”
Antetokounmpo himself reflected on the mindset required to take such a shot. “You can live if you miss. You cannot live (with yourself) if you don’t shoot it,” he said. ”I’ve been in that position many times.Sometimes I’ve missed, sometimes I’ve (made it). People don’t remember the times you miss, thay remember all the times you make, so I’m happy about that.”
The win marked a significant moment in the developing rivalry between the Bucks and Pacers, a matchup that has featured dramatic contests over the past three seasons.
