'He Cannot Hoop,' Giannis Trolls Shams Charania at 2026 NBA Celebrity Game

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had a blunt assessment of ESPN reporter Shams Charania's prospects of success ahead of the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Antetokounmpo, who worked alongside his brothers Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo as a coach for the celebrity contest, was told before game action that his team was "not fair."

"You know why it's not fair? 'Cause I have Shams on my team," Antetokounmpo said. "He cannot hoop. But everybody else can hoop. So in the offseason, we grab them as free agents."

Team Antetokounmpo defeated Team Anthony Anderson 65-58 in the All-Star celebrity matchup.

That largely wasn't thanks to Charania, whose phone usage on the sideline during the game earned him a callout from Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant:

Rome Flynn, who contributed 17 points to the win, was named Celebrity Game MVP for a second straight season after the win.

Antetokounmpo's temporary role as Charania's coach took place after the ESPN reported covered multiple midseason trade rumors surrounding the forward.

The Bucks ultimately retained Antetokounmpo past the Feb. 5 trade deadline, although ESPN's Jamal Collier recently reported he and his longtime franchise aren't expected to resume talks about his future until this offseason.