"Runs his mouth and then loses": Warriors fans back Giannis Antetokounmpo against Alperen Sengun after EuroBasket handshake snub 

The 2025 EuroBasket concluded on Sunday, with the final days offering some intriguing storylines, including a potential new rivalry in the NBA between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun. The star bigs locked horns in the semis, with Sengun's Turkish team comprehensively beating Antetokounmpo's Greece 94-68.

Turkey held Giannis to only 12 points. He added 12 rebounds and five assists, but it wasn't enough. Sengun said Turkey deliberately sent help defense to cover Giannis, claiming he wasn't a "great passer."

"He's an amazing player, you know, but he's not a great passer," Sengun told reporters.

Giannis avoided clapping back directly at Sengun, but "The Greek Freak" reminded everyone to watch his YouTube highlights.

Their cold war took over the award ceremony on Sunday. As the EuroBasket celebrated the All-Star Five, Sengun and Antetokounmpo didn't shake hands.

Warriors fans sought the opportunity to take a dig at Sengun amid their age-old rivalry with the Rockets, which was renewed in the first round of last season's playoffs.

Here's how they reacted:

warriorsworld

@warriorsworld

Lol runs his mouth and then loses. Again

My Mother's Country Went Back to Back to Back!!!!

@sebguts10

@warriorsworld He’s a Rocket through and through

Reff Van Gundy

@QBetterscope

@warriorsworld Haha he’s so fun to hate on. Can’t stand him

Kevin

@primekev2330

@warriorsworld It makes so much sense for Giannis to be a Warrior. He can drop his n*ts on Sengun face playing w/ Steph

Este Maurial

@Limphjree

@warriorsworld Yeah Im taking Giannis 50 pieces November 9th, hes as petty as Steph when it comes to that

Van 🇵🇸

@thatisvantastic

@warriorsworld I was cheering for germany just bcs i hate his arrogant a**

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Giannis Antetokounmpo's coach hits back at "small kid" Alperen Sengun

Giannis Antetokounmpo has opted to let his highlights speak for themselves after Alperen Sengun's criticism of his passing, but Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis was quick to clap back at the Turkish center. Spanoulis called Sengun a "small kid" and shot down the narrative that Turkey "locked down" Giannis.

"I want to say something about the previous question you asked Giannis. Sengun is a very, very small kid to talk about Giannis," Spanoulis said on Sunday. "Second, we hear a lot of, let's say, different ideas from people who don't have an idea about basketball, that Turkish team lock Giannis. This is bulls**t. You know, we were not having a good day.

"They play the same defense against Giannis. He missed four layups alone. He found more than six times his teammates. We didn't score. So, I don't want to hear this bulls**t. This is bulls**t."

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished the game with five assists. For the tournament, he averaged 4.1 assists, which was impressive, considering his high scoring output of 27.3 points.

His passing game wasn't always "great," but Giannis has improved the aspect yearly, especially in the NBA. He averages 5.0 apg for his career. Over the last two seasons, Giannis has averaged 6.5 apg.