Play of the Day: Giannis Antetokounmpo – November 14
MIAMI (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo obviously knows a little about football too.
Miami Heat power forward it looked like a long snapper playing football Saturday evening, throw the ball backwards between your legs and setting up Klay Thompson for a 3-pointer from the left corner in a game against the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in a 137-117 Heat victory.
BETWEEN HER OWN LEGS 😲
HOW did Giannis find Klay in the corner?? pic.twitter.com/y2ifH41yTx
– NBA (@NBA) November 15, 2026
“I wanted to make the pass before the ball got deflected,” said Antetokounmpo, who has completed similar passes before.
The football-like play occurred about two minutes into the first quarter. Antetokounmpo – a known football fan – rushed to the floor to recover a loose ball, as Detroit guards Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter converged on the play.
Thompson watched the play the entire game, caught Antetokounmpo’s “hike”, pivoted and shot without dribbling. The shot went in and those on the Heat bench jumped in celebration. Even Thompson gave an incredulous look as the game went the other way.
“It was an incredible style, with a long snapper,” Thompson said in an on-court interview broadcast in the arena. “It’s a testament to Giannis’ skill level. People are wowed by his ability to dunk and run, but my God… he just knew I was in the corner. He didn’t even see me, and just between the legs.”
Antetokounmpo knew Thompson was around and thought he hadn’t moved.
“I knew he would always be there,” Antetokounmpo said.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who was standing just a few feet from where the “spike” happened, said he didn’t see such a play coming.
“I can usually see a pass that someone is going to make, and I never would have predicted that pass in the corner,” Spoelstra said. “Besides, Klay’s just in his career about seizing a moment, right? He’s not going to let a moment go by. … He’s going to make sure he knocks down the 3.”
It was the first of Antetokounmpo’s two assists in the first half. The other was a without looking, over the shoulder throw to Ryan Conwell, setting up another 3-pointer late in the second quarter.
“We like it when he brings a little bit of Magic Johnson to the game,” Spoelstra said.
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