NBA - Main

I see this is a very unpopular opinion, and I love watching Giannis, but I don't have a problem with the technical called here.

I get it sucks that he already had a technical, so it triggered an ejection, but Giannis clearly does the following:

1. He changes direction and takes 2 steps towards Stewart to get in his face after the dunk.

2. As he's walking away, he also makes the "too small" gesture.

What is your definition of taunting if you can do this after every single basketball play?

People will complain about the fans, especially young ones, who paid money to go to the game, but am I the only one who finds it so cringey every time a young 8-year old basketball player taunts their opponent after every basket because they think it looks cool. Do we really want young fans "mean mugging" their opponents in their own youth games?

I get celebrating a basket, but to me, the getting in a player's face crosses the line. I also don't have a problem with holding players accountable when they cross that line.

With all that said, I also understand that the refs are very inconsistent in calling these taunting violations. I feel like the NBA needs to just state their policy of what is and isn't allowed, and then follow that code of conduct. To me, what Giannis does here ventures into what shouldn't be allowed, so that's why I'm ok with the ejection. I'm sure you can point at 100+ other instances of players doing similar without being called though, and, to that, I'd say they also should have been assessed a technical.