Antetokounmpo Phone Call to Turkey’s Sengun Squashed the Beef – tovima.com

The public fracas online between NBA superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun, following the EuroBasket 2025 semi-final between Greece and Turkey in Finland, nearly escalated into a diplomatic row.

However, according to online basketball news site basketnews.com, a phone call by the “Greek Freak” to his rival saved the day, with the two players finally squashing the beef.

Antetokounmpo took the first step, basketnews.com reports, by tracking down Sengun’s phone number and reaching out directly. The pair reportedly held several conversations, both over calls and messages, in an effort to reconcile.

The squabble between the two men started after the semi-final game between Greece and Turkey, when the Turkish player, in a post-match interview, alluded to Gianni’s “mediocre” passing skills.

Comments and social media posts from both sides, along with remarks by Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis—who said Sengun was “too young to speak about Giannis”—fueled the controversy, sparking reactions in both Greece and Turkey.

Tensions were visible through the final ceremony, where the two players pointedly did not shake hands when named to the all-tournament team.

Sources also said NBA representatives encouraged contact between the players, noting their global popularity and value in promoting the league internationally.

Sengun later emphasized he holds “great respect for the Greek people” and even appeared alongside Antetokounmpo in a joint Instagram post.

What initially seemed like a feud with the potential to escalate—even taking on sociopolitical undertones—had been defused before further incidents arose.

Both players are now turning their focus back to the NBA season, with Antetokounmpo preparing for another run with the Milwaukee Bucks and Sengun set to lead the Houston Rockets in his own rising career.